PANICKING shoppers have given supermarkets record paydays by splashing out £2.5billion since Monday.

More than 15million people joined the mad dash after non-essential shops were shut in Tier 4, despite supermarkets urging shoppers that they have plenty of stock.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Tesco has set buying limits on certain grocery products

6

Tesco has set buying limits on certain grocery products
Toilet paper is shown rationed to 3 per person at a Tesco in Cambridge

6

Toilet paper is shown rationed to 3 per person at a Tesco in CambridgeCredit: Bav Media
Shoppers will only be allowed to purchase three of eggs, rice, soap and loo roll

6

Shoppers will only be allowed to purchase three of eggs, rice, soap and loo roll

Yesterday, in an email to customers Tesco’s CEO Jason Tarry promised shoppers that they had good stock levels.

This is despite fears  supermarkets could run out of lettuce, cauliflower and citrus fruits due to a French travel ban.

Tesco has had “rationing” or stock limits on a number of items in place since September – but these are no new restrictions.

Tesco’s rationing limits explained

THESE are the items that Tesco has limits on, these rules have been in place since September 2020.

There’s still a limit of three per person in store on five items:

  • flour
  • dried pasta
  • toilet roll
  • baby wipes
  • anti-bacterial wipes

However, more than 15 million panicking shoppers have given supermarkets record paydays, with £2.5billion rung through tills since Monday.

Customers were left facing empty shelves.

Lucy Smith, 27, found a four-pack of Yorkshire puds at Aldi in Burpham, West Sussex, only for someone to swipe them out of her trolley.

Shoppers faced two-hour queues for a record number of click-and-collect orders at non-essential Tier 4 retailers.

Tempers flared as shops mixed up orders and staff became overwhelmed.

Hand wipes have been rationed to one per person at one Tesco in Cambridgeshire

6

Hand wipes have been rationed to one per person at one Tesco in CambridgeshireCredit: Bav Media
Supermarket shelves were left empty today due to stockpiling before Christmas

6

Supermarket shelves were left empty today due to stockpiling before ChristmasCredit: PA:Press Association
Shoppers have been urged to shop 'normally'

6

Shoppers have been urged to shop ‘normally’Credit: PA:Press Association

Tracy Simpson, of Milton Keynes, said: “Morrisons’ click-and-collect was mayhem — a two-hour wait in the car park and the manager refused to talk to customers.”

Sources say most shops do not have the space to act as collection depots.

Amazon, Asos, M&S and other retailers promising next-day delivery saw an online boom.

Panic-buyers queue outside shops as Grant Shapps promises border chaos will not cause Christmas dinner food shortages

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk

You May Also Like

Billionaire Nelson Peltz hit by backlash over Unilever stake

Nelson Peltz is facing a backlash over how he bought his £1.4billion…

Your landlord could be fined £5,000 for mouldy or damp homes – rights for renters revealed

HARSH weather can cause issues in your home like dampness and mould,…

Investigate ‘toothless’ FCA over Woodford failures, campaigners urge

The City watchdog is facing a furious backlash over its handling of…

Our Christmas feast was ruined when Morrisons gave us frozen turkey dinosaurs instead of festive bird

A FAMILY had their Christmas turkey feast ruined after Morrisons supermarket substituted…