Sainsbury's bans stockpiling and helps older people to shop

Hectors Way store in Newbury to open from 7am to 8am for over 70s

Sainsbury’s has announced a nationwide rationing regime, with the first hour of trading at its stores open solely to elderly and vulnerable people tomorrow.

Customers will be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery product and a maximum of two on the most popular products including toilet paper, soap and UHT milk.

Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe said there was enough food coming into the system, sales were being limited so that items stayed on shelves longer and could be bought by a larger numbers of customers.

Tesco has announced this afternoon that it will also be restricting customers to a maximum of three items from tomorrow (Thursday).

Between 7am and 8am tomorrow (Thursday), all Sainsbury’s outlets in West Berkshire will only serve people identified as elderly or vulnerable.

Mr Coupe said: "I hope that you can respect this decision and will work with us as we try our best to help those that need it the most. If you or an elderly family member, friend or neighbour would like to shop during this hour, please check online for your local supermarket opening hours".

Changes are also being made to Sainsbury's deliveries and click and collect services from Monday, March 23.

Online customers over 70 years of age or who have a disability will have priority access to online delivery slots. Sainsbury's said that it would contact these customers in the coming days with more details.

For any online customer who can travel to its stores, Sainsbury's will operate an expanded 'click and collect' service with more collection points.

Customers can place their order online as usual and pick it up from a collection point in the store car park. Sainsbury's said it believed the move would work for people who are self-isolating.

Sainsbury's and Tesco will also be closing their meat, fish and pizza counters to free up warehouse and lorry capacity.

Tesco has reduced opening hours of its 24-hour stores to between 6am and 10pm to allow staff to refill shelves through the night.

The moves follows panic buying in supermarkets at the weekend.

Stock sold out rapidly, leaving shelves empty, with items including toilet roll, pasta and rice in high demand.

The Government is advising against stockpiling, stressing there is no need for the majority of households to engage in such activity.

Reckless shopping could be depriving vulnerable people of essentials.

Aldi announced on Monday it would be limiting customers to four items.

Waitrose has announced limits will be placed on some of its more in-demand items.