Rationing hits supermarkets for the first time since WWII due to coronavirus stockpiling

Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda today set a limit of three for any item and two for essential products, such as toilet roll and handwash.

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Morrisons and other retailers are set to follow suit in the coming days.

Pleas for shoppers to stop panic buying have not worked and this, coupled with issues getting some products from abroad, has pushed supermarkets to bring in strict new rules.

Stores have been forced to act after empty shelves for loo rolls, pasta and hand wash have extended to fresh produce, bread, meat plus lower levels of cereals.

Rationing was introduced in 1940 by the government, a year after the start of WW2. It was slowly lifted after the end of the war in 1945 but didn't finally end until 1954.

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Morrisons is hiring 3,500 more staff while Sainsbury’s and Asda are shutting cafes and fresh counters.

Amazon has stopped accepting non-essential items at its delivery warehouse, meaning some items may go out of stock or take longer to get delivered.

Supermarkets have also introduced "silver" shopping hours for elderly customers so that they can get supplies.

Online grocery firm Ocado has removed its app temporarily and its website is down until Saturday.

Tesco and Asda have also announced their 24-hour stores will close early to help them re-stock overnight.

Supermarkets impose limits on stock

Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are limiting stock to three of each item per person.

Last week Aldi introduced a strict limit of four per item.

Below, the table explains how supermarkets are rationing items.

It is expected that other supermarkets will introduce limits across all of their stock within the coming days

Online delivery slots sell out

Online grocer Ocado has removed its app and its website went down this morning due to demand from shoppers for online deliveries.

Slots for supermarkets are either completely sold out or only available from early April.

Some supermarkets have introduced extra click and collect services, including Sainsbury's.

Closures of cafes in-store and fresh counters

Asda and Sainsbury's have so far announced closures to in-store cafes and fresh food counters such as fish and meat.

The measure is to help supermarkets move resources back to shop floors so they can re-stock shelves.

We'll update this story when we hear back from other supermarkets.

How supermarkets are helping the elderly

Sainsbury’s is allowing elderly and vulnerable shoppers early access into some stores today, March 19, so they can get essentials.

Customers are advised to find out if their local one is taking part.

From March 23, customers over the age of 70 and shoppers with a disability will have priority access to online delivery slots.

Customers will be contacted with more information in the coming days.

Iceland is allowed elderly shoppers only in for the first two hours of trade yesterday, March 19. We’ve asked if it plans on doing this again.

Asda is asking customers not to shop before 9am on March 20 so the elderly have priority.

The supermarket says they’ll decide whether to do more days at the end of this week.

Morrisons will give elderly shoppers extra help between 9am and 10am, Monday to Saturday until further notice.

M&S is also dedicated the first hour of trade every Monday and Thursday to elderly shoppers.

It'll do the same for emergency service workers every Tuesday and Friday.

From Friday, Waitrose supermarkets will give priority to elderly and vulnerable customers for the first hour of trade.

We've asked Waitrose if they expect this to be on-going and we'll update this article when we know more.

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Stores operating with reduced hours

Tesco and Asda have announced plans to reduce opening hours of 24 hour stores to allow them to re-stock.

Larger Tesco stores including Metro, Superstore and Extras will close at 10pm and reopen at 6am.

While Asda is closing its 24-hour branches from midnight until 6am.

What shoppers need to do now

Firstly, don't panic. Take a look around your kitchen and fridge and work out if you have enough food to last you for a two-week isolation period.

Make a list of meals you could cook or have and then work out what you would need to buy.

If the UK does enter a lockdown situation then supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open.

You will still be able to visit them - unless you're self isolating.

Remember, family and friends will be able to bring you supplies should you not be able to leave the house.

We've created a guide on how to stockpile for a two-week isolation.