Retailers report surge in sales after government urges emergency preparedness

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 17:33 · Archive

Retailers have reported sharp increases in sales of essential goods following government guidance urging households to prepare for disruptions to power and utilities.

The government's Be Ready campaign has prompted retailers to report sharp increases in sales of essential goods. The guidance urges households to prepare for potential disruptions to power, water, phones and broadband caused by severe weather or other emergencies.

Iceland reported a 40% increase in tinned product sales over the weekend following the announcement, with strong demand for bottled water as well. The supermarket said its supplies of these products remained healthy. Maplin reported even more dramatic increases: torch sales rose 284%, radios rose 92%, and power banks rose 106%. Ollie Marshall, Maplin's managing director, said that within hours of the announcement, customers were buying 'the basics – a torch, a wind-up radio, a power bank', with torch sales nearly quadrupling and radio sales almost doubling in three days.

The government's recommendation that households prepare for three days of disruption follows approaches already adopted in countries including France, Ireland and the Netherlands. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting had urged people to stockpile goods to prepare for emergencies such as cyber attacks or extreme weather events.

How it is being reported

• Retailers see surge in sales of essential goods following government adviceRetailers like Iceland, Maplin and Robert Dyas have seen an increase in sales of essential goods following government adviceCambs Times · 27 Oct, 17:09
• Retailers see surge in sales of essential goods following government adviceRetailers like Iceland, Maplin and Robert Dyas have seen an increase in sales of essential goods following government adviceEly Standard · 27 Oct, 17:09

In this story: Cabinet Office · Iceland · Maplin · Wes Streeting · Ollie Marshall

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