Householders spent over €5m in toilet roll panic-buying splurge

Hoarding of essential household items led to an 181pc increase in toilet roll sales for a total of €5.4m. Photo: S847/Getty Images

Allison Bray

March 28 2020 02:30 AM

Grocery sales in supermarkets have sky-rocketed with households spending almost as much during the first week of the Covid-19 crisis as they did last Christmas due to panic-buying, a new survey reveals.

Irish householders collectively spent €363m, or an average of €214 a week, on groceries during the week ending March 15 compared to an average weekly grocery spend of €176 in 2019.

It was the second-highest spend on groceries and other household supplies since €366m was spent during the run-up to Christmas ending on December 22, 2019, according to the latest survey from Nielsen.

Panic-buying and stockpiling were cited as being the main reasons for the surge "as Irish shoppers shift their grocery shopping habits from 'pantry preparation' to 'preparing for quarantined living'," according to Nielsen. Not surprisingly, hand sanitisers were flying off the shelves with a 2,412pc increase in sales over the same period last year for a total of €188m, despite scarce supplies.

The sales of non-perishable food items - such as rice and pasta - were more than €16m higher than the same period last year for a total of €37.2m.

Hoarding of essential household items led to an 181pc increase in toilet roll sales for a total of €5.4m.

The sales of soap were more than five times - 552pc - higher than over the same period last year, followed by disinfectant liquids up 348pc, rubber gloves up 306pc and vitamins and minerals, up by 224pc.

The sale of health and beauty products also surged after all hair salons and barbers were ordered to close.

Sales of such products were 98pc higher than over the same period last year, rising to €15m.

The sale of alcohol is also continuing to rise by 33pc a week.

It comes after all pubs and bars were ordered to close to combat the virus.

Nielsen said grocery sales will continue to grow in the coming weeks although we are likely past the peak of panic-buying of non-perishable and frozen food.

However the sales of alcohol and beauty products will likely grow, according to the research.

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