Woolworths lifts buying limits on a range of items

Josh Dutton
·News Reporter
·2-min read

Shopping at the supermarket is about to get a little easier despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Woolworths has announced it will lift purchasing restrictions on a number of items after being forced to put them in place to stop panic buying and hoarding.

The supermarket said long life milk, canned vegetables, canned legumes, canned tomatoes, pasta side dishes and serviettes will no longer be subject to the restrictions.

General view outside a Woolworths in Sunbury as people wait outside.
Elderly shoppers wait outside Woolworths in Subury to open. Source: Getty Images

Baby care also has had restrictions on it lifted except for wipes where limits still apply.

Restrictions also remain in place on frozen vegetables, sugar and flour.

Woolworths restrictions (two per customer)

  • Grocery Foods

  • Pasta (dried)

  • Flour

  • Noodles (dried)

  • Pasta Sauce

  • Sugar

  • Baked Beans & Canned Spaghetti

  • Frozen Vegetables

  • Frozen Chips, Wedges & Hash Browns (no limit in store)

Last week, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci said the supermarket was working “very hard” to keep up the demand for toilet paper and other essential items.

“Demand for toilet paper finally appears to be tapering, with this week’s sales expected to be around 15-16 million rolls,” Mr Banducci said.

“That’s still 45 per cent up on last year, but with supply up 70 per cent on last year, there is increasingly more on-shelf. But like every week so far, I’d still ask you to only buy what you need.”

A man looks for toilet paper in an Australian supermarket after panic buying due to the Corona Virus
A Melbourne shopper looks in Woolworths for toilet paper. Source: Getty Images

Woolworths items no longer under restriction

  • Long life milk

  • Canned vegetables

  • Canned legumes

  • Canned tomatoes

  • Pasta side dishes

  • Serviettes

  • Baby care (excluding wipes, where limits still apply)

He added sales on paper towels and tissues have gone up 60 to 80 per cent.

“That’s a staggering 2.75 million rolls of paper towels and more than 1.6 million boxes of tissues a week,” Mr Banducci said.

“These are big numbers and we’re working with our suppliers to bring in even more supply.”

A shopper carrying a reusable plastic bag is seen leaving a Woolworths Sydney CBD store, Sydney.
Woolworths still has restrictions on certain items such as toilet paper. Source: AAP (file pic)

Earlier this month, Coles lifted its restrictions on meat. Previously, mince was restricted to one pack per person.

“The added supply has allowed Coles to remove purchase limits on all meat products in our supermarkets, making it easier for customers to buy the meat they need to feed their family,” Coles told Yahoo News Australia in a statement.

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