Supermarket sign warning of reduced product ranges

Dark green Waitrose poster with light green text reading ‘Important news’ and white text reading ‘You may experience a reduced range of products when you shop with us today. This is because we need to give priority to essential items. We’re also setting a limit of THREE on all necessary purchases to make sure all customers can buy the products they need. Thank you so much for you patience.’, from Waitrose & Partners, Finchley and of the type used in Waitrose shops during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020

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.