Coop and Migros, Switzerland’s two largest supermarkets have decided to limit the number of people entering their stores, creating queues outside, according to RTS.
To reduce the spread of Covid-19, shopper density has been reduced to one person per 10 m2, which drastically reduces the number of people allowed inside simultaneously.
In addition, shopping in the two chains has been restricted to the food section. Other areas have been closed.
On top of the hassle of needing to queue, some stores are running out of some items. Frozen and tinned foods, flour, sugar, cleaning products and toilet paper are in high demand a representative from Migros told RTS.
Switzerland’s government says there is no reason to panic buy. The country has sufficient reserves of food and essential items to cover any shortfall for a period of 3 months – list of items in reserve. For example, the government has 160,000 tonnes of wheat in storage.
In addition, food supply chains are unlikely to be significantly affected by the viral outbreak. Disruption is more likely to result from unnecessary panic buying.
More on this:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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JOYPATTINSON says
Migros customers have had many a disappointment in their Livraison services. They were able to ring through their orders but once they had completed them they were not given any date for the delivery! What was the point of placing any order when there was no delivery time and date suggested? Migros just could not cope and were inundated with disappointed customers. Other delivery services worked during the evenings to complete orders. I can’t think what would happen in the event of a war!
JOYPATTINSON says
It sounds as if this rush for toilet paper is copying what happened in the UK which at first raised laughter. You cannot EAT loo paper! For those of us who went through World War II, it is food that is essential in cases like this. In those days newspaper was used as toilet paper as the ink then was considered safe. There was food rationing in most things and coupons for sweets for the kids. The young of today know nothing about such hardships and perhaps it might make some of them sit up and find out what happened during wartime. No lights could be shown at night and fines were issued for those who did not cover their windows. The Luftwaffe aimed at lights down below on the towns and people were scared of bombs dropping on their homes. You have to live through such a situation to really appreciate what life is like today. You have it made! Stop complaining about distancing yourselves. During WWII overight often meant there was nobody to rub against! next day!
Saja says
Do you notice that many products are wrongly priced at Coop? It seems an expensive product is purposefully kept in place of cheaper product, and the customer gets a “price shock” at the cash desk. Unfortunately it’s too late then and Coop has already made it’s profit!
Alex says
Dont worry you can eat wheat its delicious haha
Orla says
This is a really badly written article that creates even more panic.
Why isn’t the last sentence
‘food supply chains are unlikely to be significantly affected by the viral outbreak’ the first sentence rather than the sensationalist title you chose? You have a duty to be driving customer behaviors, not encouraging them