Coronavirus: Sainsbury's lifts rationing on thousands of products to help people shopping for the vulnerable

Sainsbury's has lifted buying restrictions on “thousands” of products in a bid to help customers shopping for vulnerable people who are unable to leave the house.

Last month, a number of supermarkets began to ration popular items as they struggled to keep shelves stocked following panic buying in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, in a letter to customers Mike Coupe, Sainsbury’s chief executive, has announced that some restrictions will be lifted after shoppers said product limits were preventing them from being able to buy items for others.

The letter says: “You wrote to tell me that product limits were a barrier to being able to shop for other people.

“We understand that it can be difficult to buy what you need and shop for someone else with the three-item product limit.

“We have now lifted buying restrictions on thousands of products and hope that this will help more of you to shop for others.”

Mr Coupe adds that stock levels are “now much better” across stores, but that limits will remain on some items including pasta, UHT milk, antibacterial products and some tinned and frozen foods.

The supermarket says it is also offering an additional 150,000 elderly and vulnerable customers a priority delivery slot, after giving 450,000 of this group the opportunity last week.

The new customers are matched from a government database, where people registered to say they are vulnerable and need assistance in getting a food shop.

Sainsbury's says it is currently waiting for databases for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and will contact vulnerable customers in those areas “as soon as we are able”.

The move follows the supermarkets decision to ban couples from its stores as part of its efforts to enforce strict social distancing.

The retailer said a one-adult-per-household rule was intended to help keep customers and store workers better protected from the coronavirus.

“From today, we are asking everyone to please only send one adult per household to our shops,” said Mr Coupe.

“This helps us keep people a safe distance apart and also helps reduce queues to get into stores. Our store teams will be asking groups with more than one adult to choose one adult to shop and will ask other adults to wait.

“Children of course are welcome if they are not able to stay at home.”

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