By Tony Winterburn • Published: 14 Mar 2020 • 12:32
Britain’s major supermarkets have said they didn’t expect the surge of panic buying and bulk online shopping orders they have been receiving, meaning customers could wait more than a week for deliveries.
As large numbers of people are advised to stay at home, leading supermarket chains are preparing to set aside their rivalries to work together to deliver to customers.
However, the online grocery market is not prepared for what is coming, bosses said, and there is “a real issue when it comes to thinking this can replicate the supply of physical shops”.
An executive at one leading supermarket said: “If it comes to an emergency situation for the likes of Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s then we’ll share depots and vans.
Ocado currently has the longest waiting time with shoppers having to wait 10 days to receive their goods.
In the coming days, adverts will appear encouraging people to buy food and supplies for those affected by the virus.
The government will also waive competition law, allowing supermarkets to share data with each other to ensure there is no food shortage.
But bosses of the leading supermarkets have sought to reassure the public there is plenty of food and no need to panic buy.
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