The fact that a new lockdown may soon be announced will drive many to the supermarket, according to an inquiry in the sector. Hoarding is not necessary for anything, there is sufficient stock, it sounds.
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It is remarkably busy in the supermarkets on Friday. Now that the Consultation Committee will soon be announcing even more stringent measures, many Belgians are heading to the supermarket to replenish the pantries. The Comeos sector federation is seeing considerably higher sales figures in the stores. “It is about 20 percent more sales in the stores,” says spokesman Hans Cardyn. “But during the lockdown it was 100 percent and more, a doubling.”
‘The customers are buying more’, he confirms, already he nuances a few things. ‘We are also at the beginning of the autumn holidays, there is 1 November and the sale at the borders with France (where a new lockdown has been decided, ed.) is clearly higher. It concerns the well-known products, such as flour, pasta and toilet paper. ‘
The retailers have been prepared and stocks have been replenished, Cardyn assures. The fact that people have to queue outside in some places also has to do with the strict rules. For example, only one customer per ten square meters is allowed, ‘and that makes us the strictest student in the class’.
‘Be solidarity’
At Delhaize they noticed in recent days that it was a bit busier than usual, but there was no stampede this morning. In the meantime, the crowds have increased, says spokesman Roel Dekelver. “It is very busy, much busier than usual on a Friday.”
He also emphasizes that there is absolutely no reason to stock up on products en masse, there is more than enough stock. ‘We also call for people not to hoard, because that puts extra pressure on our staff. There is enough and that will also be the case for the following days. Show solidarity towards other customers and avoid being confronted with empty shelves because the staff cannot get it replenished quickly enough. ‘
According to Delhaize, sales of toilet paper, canned food, frozen products, pasta, rice and long-life dry food have been 30 to 40 percent higher for two weeks. That has a lot to do with the quarantines, the closure of the catering industry or the many homework, it sounds.
At some Colruyt branches there were already some people waiting for the opening on Friday morning, but the crowds normalized in the course of the morning, said spokeswoman Hanne Poppe. ‘It is true that people sometimes have to wait a little longer, but that is mainly because only a limited number of customers are allowed into the store at a time. That was not yet the case in March, ‘says Poppe.
‘Since the catering industry had to close down, we have noticed that people buy more, which is normal now that they are more at home. But there are no apocalyptic states like in March, people also know that it is not necessary. Now that fewer customers are admitted to the stores at the same time, we can also monitor stocks better and replenish where necessary. ‘
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