Coronavirus: Coles lifts buying limit on toilet paper

One Australian supermarket has announced they will be scrapping their buying limit on toilet paper, as buying habits begin to stabilise amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Coles announced on Tuesday they would be the first supermarket to completely lift buying limits on toilet paper packs, which were restricted to one pack per customer, while Woolworths has now relaxed their limit on toilet paper.

A Coles spokesperson was “pleased” to announce it wasn’t just toilet paper where buying limits will be lifted.

“We are pleased to be able to remove purchase limits at Coles on key household staples like toilet paper and paper towel, and expect to remove further limits as customer demand continues to stabilise and more categories see supply levels return to normal,” the Coles spokesperson said.

“We are grateful for the efforts of our suppliers to deliver significantly increased volumes to meet the recent unexpected surge in customer demand, and to our customers for their patience and understanding as our store and supply chain team members worked to get as much stock onto shelves as possible.”

However, Coles has still got buying limits on some items.

Coles items still restricted to two per customer

• Pasta

• Flour

• Dry rice

• Eggs

• Frozen vegetables

• Frozen desserts

• Sugar

• Tin tomatoes

• Liquid soap

• Anti-bacterial wipes

Woolworths also set to relax buying limits

Starting tomorrow, Woolworths will relax their limit on toilet paper, among other sought-after items.

The limit on one pack of toilet paper per person will be lifted to four packs per person, per shop. The four per customer limit now also applies to rice.

• Shoppers beg Coles and Woolworths for new feature on supermarket shelves

• Woolworths reveal how long Aussie pantry stockpiles will last

• ALDI boss reveals the shopping behaviour he never wants to see again

Product limits have been removed for pasta, frozen vegetables, tissues, baby wipes, baked beans and canned spaghetti, paper towels and disposable gloves at Woolworths.

However, eggs, flour, sugar, pasta sauce, handwash, cleaners and disinfectants still have a two-per-shop limit.

“This is a positive sign following weeks of hard work from our teams, customers and significant support from our suppliers in meeting this unprecedented demand,” Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said in a statement.

“While product availability is getting better and better each day, it will take some time for us to get back to full supply.

“Customers may still notice certain products in shorter supply from time to time as we continue to adjust our operations to this ‘new normal’.”

However, Ms Peters warned the supermarket will be observing customer’s behaviour and will reinforce buying limits if necessary.

• The items people are not panic buying amid virus pandemic

• Woman savaged for Facebook ad selling 21 packs of toilet paper

• Aussie supermarkets band together in desperate newspaper ad

The toilet paper shortage began months ago, with fears of Australia heading into a lockdown due to the coronavirus.

Supermarkets began introducing limits to combat panic buying and hoarding.

However, with most people working from home, experts speculate the demand for toilet paper in the home was 40 per cent higher than usual, due to people staying at home.

Aldi confirmed to Yahoo News Australia there has been no changes to their one unit per person limit on toilet paper.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.