Woolworths enforces product limits following SA's Covid lockdown

Woolworths has announced purchasing limits across an array of items will now apply both in-store and online starting from Thursday in South Australia.

Woolworths said there had been an increase in demand for products across South Australia as the state government announced tightening of Covid restrictions.

The statement said the limits were to ensure all Woolworths customers had access to food and essentials during SA’s six-day lockdown.

“We understand this is an anxious time for our South Australian customers, but we encourage everyone to continue shopping as they usually would and only buy what they need,” Woolworths Supermarkets South Australian General Manager, Karl Weber said.

“As an essential service, our supermarkets will remain open to support our customers’ food and grocery needs. We have plenty of stock, which will continue to flow to stores from our distribution centres.”

From November 19, Woolworths will introduce purchase limits of two items for South Australian customers on:

• Toilet paper

• Paper Towel

• Rice

• Pasta

• Flour

• Sugar

• Frozen Vegetables

• Frozen Potato

• Frozen Fruit

• Frozen Fish

• Frozen Poultry

• Longlife Milk (Reg, Skim, Lite)

• Longlife Milk - Specialty (Soy, Almond)

• Anti Bacterial Wipes

• Liquid Hand Wash

• Disinfectants

• Bleach

• Cleaners

• Noodles (Mainstream)

• Canned Tomato

• Canned Vegetables

• Canned Legumes

• Disposable Gloves

• Sponges & Scourers

• Baby Wipes

• Tissues

• Dishwashing Liquid

• Dairy Milk - excluding flavoured

• Dairy Milk (Specialty)

• Chilled Juice

• Bacon Prepacked

• Eggs

• Mince (fixed weight only)

• Sausages

• Burgers, Rissoles and meatballs

• Carrots Prepacked

• Potatoes Prepacked

• Onions Prepacked

• Bread (loaves) including in-store

• Frozen Seafood

Meat

• 2 x packs Pork

• 2 x packs Lamb

• 2 x packs Beef

• 2 x packs Chicken

2kg Limit on the following

• Meat from the butcher

• Small Goods from the Deli

• Poultry from the Deli

Fruit and vegetable

• 2kg limit on Carrots

• 2kg Limit on Onions

• 2kg Limit on Potatoes

Woolworths customers expected to wear masks

From tomorrow, Woolworths will expect all customers entering stores in South Australia to wear face masks, as per the state government’s directive, saying the safety and wellbeing of customers and staff is the company’s “top priority”.

Mr Weber also urged customers to adhere to all social distancing and hygiene measures while in stores and asked for customers to treat staff with respect.

“We will have health and safety ambassadors at the front of every store to wipe down trolleys and hand sanitiser readily available for our customers,” he said.

“We ask customers to treat our team and each other with respect as we work through this unsettling time.”

Woolworths is also working towards ramping up extra online delivery capacity for customers.

“Woolworths' Priority Assistance service offers dedicated online delivery windows to the elderly, people with a disability, those with compromised immunity and people in mandatory self-isolation,” Woolworth said in a media statement.

Coles imposing purchasing rules

Coles reimposed purchasing limits at their supermarkets, Coles Express stores and online yesterday in South Australia.

A two-pack per customer limit applies to toilet paper, paper towel and tissues at Coles.

Aldi confirmed to Yahoo News Australia there is plenty of stock in South Australia and there have not been any product limits introduced at this time.

Yahoo News Australia has reached Foodland to confirm whether it would be introducing purchasing limits in the state.

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Following the news of South Australia’s six-day lockdown, images began circulating on social media of people flocking to the supermarket.

From midnight tonight, South Australians will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons - like getting groceries.

“We are keeping supermarkets open in South Australia,” Premier Steven Marshall said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The premier also acknowledged the lockdown, though short, would be tough for residents.

“Of course, we know the restrictions are going to be very punishing ... but we know we're doing it for the right reasons to stop a far harsher lockdown which will come if we allow the virus to get away from us.”

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