Supermarket sign on fair trading

Dark green Waitrose sign with light green and white text titled ‘Our fair trading policy’, from Waitrose & Partners, Finchley and of the type used in Waitrose shops during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020

"To make sure all our customers can buy the products they need we're setting a limit of three per customer across most grocery items." Fresh fruit and vegetables, Easter confectionary, beer, wine and spirits and cider were exempt from restrictions.

At the beginning of the national lockdown, supplies of a range of products were limited. All supermarkets in the United Kingdom rely in a just-in-time model to stock their shelves. Every day deliveries are made depending on each store's individual needs. However with the impact of COVID-19, those that could afford to were buying more, sometimes stockpiling goods in case supplies ran short. The unexpected higher demand meant goods could not be transported quick enough or shelves stacked quick enough. Coupled with staff absences due to illness across the whole supply chain, stores took action on limiting purchases on essential items.