// Toilet roll sales surge as Brits fear second Covid-19 wave is underway
// Over the past week, sales of toilet rolls have risen by 23%
Toilet roll sales have increased over the past week as retailers prepare for a strong demand in staple items following the government’s recent tightened regulations regarding Covid-19.
In March, grocers across the UK were forced to speed up their supply chains and introduce purchase limits, which meant rationing toilet rolls and other products such as pasta and hand sanitiser.
Over the past week, sales of toilet rolls have soared by 23 per cent, according to manufacturer WEPA Group, which produces toilet paper and kitchen towels for the UK market.
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WEPA UK also produces own brand toilet paper for Big 4 supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, and said it had learned lessons from earlier in the year when consumers were stockpiling.
It also said that the UK would have sufficient supplies if customers shopped responsibly.
“We are doing all that we can to ensure stock remains available,” WEPA UK joint managing director Mike Docker said.
“The company has put in place back-up production facilities and has hauliers on standby.
“But consumers need to act on the advice provided by the supermarkets when buying”.
Meanwhile, supermarkets said they have noticed shoppers buying a few extra tinned tomatoes and large bags of dried pasta since Sunday..
Iceland managing director Richard Walker maintained that the company is not facing any product shortages.
Nevertheless, Waitrose said it had not seen significant changes in behaviour but is preparing for a potential shift in demand by stocking up on staple products.
Prime minister Boris Johnson tightened measures on Wednesday by implementing stricter rules in England, where Covid-19 infections are rising daily.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the PM said that all retail workers in England will need to wear face coverings from Thursday, or retailers face fines of up to £10,000.
Johnson added that the measures aim to ensure retailers can remain open in a “Covid-secure way”.
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