SHOPPERS in Penola have emptied the shelves of the town’s IGA supermarket of toilet paper, hand sanister and tissues as fears mount over the coronavirus epidemic.
Retail giants Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have imposed strict limits on toilet paper rolls, face masks and hand sanitiser as customers stockpile goods spurred by the threat of the respiratory virus.
Penola IGA supermarket owner Shane McPherson said the Church Street business was not immune to the sharp rise in toilet paper sales, with new stock difficult to source.
“All of the supermarkets are running out and the warehouses have cut back our supplies,” he said.
“I have put a sign up saying we reserve the right to limit sales to retail quantity to make sure people do not buy the whole lot.
“More toilet paper is expected to arrive in the regular deliveries, but there is going to be a shortfall of stock in the next few weeks.”
Mr McPherson noted a “shock increase” of hand sanitiser purchases and said the supermarket had received calls from individuals from neighbouring towns questioning whether they had hand sanitiser in stock.
“We have never seen anything like this before,” he said.
“Sometimes if we are short we will be able to get it from somewhere else, but this time we cannot,” he said.
“Although we have not seen any evidence of panic buying but antibacterial handwash and wipes are also starting to go as well.”
Across the region, rationing of toilet paper has been in place in response to the nationwide panic buying.
Despite the production of tens of millions of toilet rolls each year at the nearby Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) Millicent Mill, Woolworths stores in Mount Gambier, Naracoorte and Millicent is limiting customers to a maximum of four packs each.
KCA Millicent Mill management confirmed production of toilet paper and tissues has recently increased, but it has not been quantified.
It has been publicly stated the increase was within the production capacity of the plant and it had adequate raw materials in hand including imported pulp.
In a statement, a KCA spokesperson said the Millicent Mill was continuing to operate around the clock.
“Our production lines are working 24/7 to address the increased, short-term demand,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re also working closely with our customers to replenish supermarket shelves faster.”
Tourism businesses are also taking a hit as coronavirus has halted the travel plans of many international visitors, including from key visitor markets China and South Korea.
Must @ Coonawarra owner Cate Cooper said travel restrictions currently imposed on Italian residents would have a direct impact on the accommodation provider.
“It is not very good for our tourism industry as these cancellations equate to thousands of dollars,” she said.
“Bookings for up and coming special events have not been affected, but it is mostly general tourism booking – especially international tourists.”
However, Ms Cooper said the decrease in tourism numbers was a temporary problem and will only last as long as the coronavirus.
“As soon as the virus stops being headline news I believe everything will go back to normal,” she said.
“We are lucky there are capital works happening around the area which has kept our weekly numbers up, but the weekends have dropped which is uncommon for this time of year.
“I think it is largely panic at the moment, but that is not something you can plan for in a business.” ble to get it from somewhere else, but this time we cannot,” he said.
“Although we have not seen any evidence of panic buying but antibacterial handwash and wipes are also starting to go as well.”
Across the region, rationing of toilet paper has been in place in response to the nationwide panic buying.
Despite the production of tens of millions of toilet rolls each year at the nearby Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) Millicent Mill, Woolworths stores in Mount Gambier, Naracoorte and Millicent is limiting customers to a maximum of four packs each.
KCA Millicent Mill management confirmed production of toilet paper and tissues has recently increased, but it has not been quantified.
It has been publicly stated the increase was within the production capacity of the plant and it had adequate raw materials in hand including imported pulp.
In a statement, a KCA spokesperson said the Millicent Mill was continuing to operate around the clock.
“Our production lines are working 24/7 to address the increased, short-term demand,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re also working closely with our customers to replenish supermarket shelves faster.”
Tourism businesses are also taking a hit as coronavirus has halted the travel plans of many international visitors, including from key visitor markets China and South Korea.
Must @ Coonawarra owner Cate Cooper said travel restrictions currently imposed on Italian residents would have a direct impact on the accommodation provider.
“It is not very good for our tourism industry as these cancellations equate to thousands of dollars,” she said.
“Bookings for up and coming special events have not been affected, but it is mostly general tourism booking – especially international tourists.”
However, Ms Cooper said the decrease in tourism numbers was a temporary problem and will only last as long as the coronavirus.
“As soon as the virus stops being headline news I believe everything will go back to normal,” she said.
“We are lucky there are capital works happening around the area which has kept our weekly numbers up, but the weekends have dropped which is uncommon for this time of year.
“I think it is largely panic at the moment, but that is not something you can plan for in a business.”
