The current semi-lockdown in Mallorca coupled with a delay in supplies arriving from the Peninsula after Storm ‘Filomena’ has prompted massive queues at supermarkets over the last week and the shelves are emptying fast.
Bartomeu Servera, President of the Association of Food, Beverage & Cleaning Products Distribution Companies in the Balearic Islands says the Government has to do something to stop people hoarding food when there’s no justification for it.
“There should have been a proactive message of reassurance from the very beginning, especially when there was going to be a shortage of products from the Peninsula, but there has been nothing,” says Servera. “For a few days this week the level of hoarding of food and all kinds of other products was higher than it was in March 2020 during the State of Emergency.”
A number of large supermarkets have also noticed that people are buying a lot more than they usually do.
“Hoarding levels have increased substantially to the point that they’ve exceed the figures for March last year and the increase in sales has caused huge logistical problems for companies,” they said.
The supermarkets have asked the Government not to launch confusing messages when there's adverse weather conditions and to think about what they're saying when they announce new restrictions "because it makes consumers think that we are facing a dire situation that will affect food supplies,” says Servera.
“Storm ‘Filomena did cause logistical problems for Madrid distribution centres and some meat products were missing from supermarket shelves for a few days, but the Government must speak clearly to avoid misinformation."
4 comments
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such a completely unnecessary comment Mark it adds nothing, my suggestion is that you do something more important than write rudeness, maybe get yourself a life
The supermarkets themselves can impose restrictions on items they are selling. They don’t need the govt to say so. They don’t want to because the reality is they are making more money out of it. And what are people hoarding exactly? They don’t say. Some delay in meat products arriving and that’s it. So why not try some non-meat meals for a change? Heresy, I know.
Ulrika, have you taken your medication? What on earth are you talking about?
I think the newspaper should be careful aswell how and what the write. Most people get the information through the papers and sadly belive everything in writing