Key facts
- Sales of tinned foods, bottled water, torches, and radios surged after UK government emergency stockpile advice.
- Maplin saw torch sales nearly quadruple and power bank/radio sales double.
- Iceland reported a 40% rise in tinned product sales and strong bottled water demand.
- Specialist retailer EvaQ8 sold out of wind-up radios and water purification tablets.
- Sgt Prepper experienced 10-15 times usual business, particularly for wind-up radios and long-life food.
Sales of essential emergency supplies, including tinned foods, bottled water, torches, and wind-up radios, have surged across the UK following government advice to prepare for potential emergencies. Retailers reported significant increases in demand for items that could be used during extreme weather events or cyber-attacks, as part of the 'Be Ready' campaign encouraging households to stockpile for 72 hours.
Specialist technology retailer Maplin saw sales of torches nearly quadruple and power banks and radios double, with some items selling out. Grocery chain Iceland reported a 40% increase in tinned product sales and strong demand for bottled water. Online grocer Ocado also noted increased demand for certain products. However, some major supermarkets indicated no material change in demand for tinned goods, attributing any fluctuations to the current stormy weather.
Industry bodies confirmed that overall food availability remains strong, with retailers well-stocked. Specialist outdoor and 'prepper' sites experienced a significant boom, with some selling out of wind-up radios and water purification tablets. While the number of people buying these specific gadgets remains relatively low, many households have been adding tins of food to their weekly shops.