Rationing Inbound

[Dogden]

I wonder when the next major supermarket will announce limits on purchasing basic essentials. Are stocks running low or has the entire population suddenly turned to hording budget canned goods?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62905806

Stop inducing panic buying

Are stocks running low or has the entire population suddenly turned to hording budget canned goods?

Neither, they've had supply problems with that range for ages.

Aldi run out of stuff all the time but just don't put limits.

Supermarket supplies have been less reliable for a while: Brexit, Covid and people shifting to the cheaper shops with less control over their supply chains. None of that indicates widespread supply problems.

I haven't actually induced nor insinuated that panic buying as you call it is necessary. I have simply highlighted a current news story that may be of interest to the members of this group.

This is a forum for discussing prepping. Including the intermittent and usually sensationalist coverage buying extra gets in the news.
Panic buying is what people who don't prep do because they haven't been sensible and continue not to be.

Panic buying is what people who don't prep do.
I've really let my pandemic stash whittle away. I need to do a mega shop of long life items and put it to one side.

That’s interesting. I managed to try the Essentials beans (25p) and they’re ok. Went back for some more, and the whole shelf had been stripped bare.

I can imagine someone carting the whole lot off in a massive trolley tbh, as we see people clearly bulk buying to a ridiculous degree quite a lot in our local Asda.

I think rationing is understandable when people - it only takes a few - behave like this.

Yes, don't talk about anything! Shh!

I know of some shortages but not saying the media scour Mumsnet

I think these ranges do need to be limited because they are aimed at the poorest, who are least able to stockpile, but of course those with more money can swoop in and take a lot. So I support the supermarket in restricting it this way to enable a more stable supply in the stores for those on limited budgets.

(We all still have to avoid talking about how Brexit fucked our supply chains of course, for fear of upsetting Brexit voters)

Yes, I agree that supermarkets need to get the budget ranges to people on a tight budget, and not allow better-off people to buy very large amounts.

Well we can't get the half sized tins of kidney beans or chickpeas anymore - in our house, we often don't even use the full amount in that size so the full size ones are a waste.

And a lot of shelves are either only front part stocked (no reserve boxes behind) or with gaps between products where many have run out entirely. I can't get the frozen peas I like. Tomatoes are reduced stock. There's limited choice of pasta and of pasta sauces. But curries and Mexican ranges still seem ok. And the porridge Dd likes is harder to find (she likes the one with apple and raisins mixed in already) - we have plain oats but I can't find dried apples and baking fruit seems low stock too. And dairy produce and meat have lots of gaps the past month or so.

That's across a range of supermarket chains too, not just Lidl/Aldi.

There is still plenty of food, but the prices are going up and the choice is going down. We've had to change meal plans a few times and I am finding ways around things but noticing and trying to get 2 of things I use a lot when back in stock rather than just 1. As I've gone through my spares on lots.

Do you not have a freezer? You can just freeze half a tin and chuck them into a sauce from frozen or defrost and eat as they are.

My wife and I have really begun noticing the gradual decline of goods available and not just in supermarkets. For example I was in Wilko's last Friday to see if I could scavenge the last remnants of garden stock but whilst there I couldn't help but notice the gaping holes in other areas of the store, to such an extent that my overriding thought was that the place appeared to have been burgled! Similarly at B&Q this Sunday gone we purchased a couple of fruit trees and we both noticed that the usual mountains of compost/bark chippings/top soil etc was all but reduced to a dishevelled pile. I realise that these issues are most probably due to a direct consequence of supply chain and distribution difficulties but the reduction in purchasing availability for affordable basic food items is, to me at least, nothing short of alarming.

The food situation isn't bad yet, it will be next years harvest that really suffers due to the 70% cut in fertiliser production in europe this year (very energy intensive) and the ban on importing potash from the east (RU/BY). Farmers are either going to have to raise prices, cope with lower yields and potentially switch to veg that doesn't need as much fertiliser for the next planting.

The lack of CO2 production (fertiliser biproduct) is going to hit drinks in the very near future so anything fizzy you drink you should be stocking up on now. Heard yesterday that Tesco won't be getting any more Schwepps diet tonic for the next 2 weeks.The supply chains in general are strained so do stock up on stuff you use a lot.

I spend an extra £10 on long term stuff with every supermarket visit. Big bag of rice or pasta plus some tins or spices to make it up to the £10 limit. It all adds up over time and will get used when the prices rocket and availability drops next year. That tenner already buys a lot less than it did last year which is really hammering things home.

rationing in asda is a good thing. stops businesses buying in bulk and taking it all.

I will be stocking up on ds's lemonade then. He only drinks a couple of things and both are going up in price.

I did notice in lidl there was a sign saying bulk purchasing not allowed. Tbf it could have been there for years and I have never noticed, but it seemed new.

I also absolutely hate the tendancy of a lot of people on here to try to squash discussion of future problems, talking about things does not make them happen. It was the same with the pandemic, its just flu blaaah., then when the mainstream media went live with it, the 180° switch would give anyone whiplash. I think I have lost all faith in humans.

I wonder if a lot of food businesses like cafés, pubs and restaurants have realised that it's often cheaper to buy from supermarkets than their usual suppliers for things like breakfast ingredients, tofu, gluten-free rolls etc if they can snaffle the 'own brand' and budget ranges.

Our problem is the teen has taken a shelf in the freezer as her own (she eats differently to DH and I), but also has tubs of icecream, bags of fruit, half packets of bagels etc stashed anywhere else she sees a hole. So I am increasingly unable to manage my freezer...small bags get lost in behind her piles of stuff.

I generally put the second half in a tub in fridge, and we use them half the time within a week, and throw them out the other half. Which is why I much prefer having the half sized tins.

I've spent a lot of time in the prepping boards under other names.

The reasons why there is limited items available in the essentials range is that they are loss leaders- and obviously dont make as much profit for the supermarket, so less are stocked. So I'm not surprised that shelf stock is limited.

After prepping for brexit, and there were absolutely no supply issues after this, I really dont think there will be severe problems.

@BiddyPop just make Larger portion of meal so using the whole tim and then freeze left overs for a different day. or freeze the half tin left overs for a different meal

In relation to limiting number of items - it makes total sense, budget brands for those struggling with money are not going to be buying large quantity, so 3 of each item is unlikely to be brought by target consumer anyway, it will stop those who are not struggling from buying lots at a time