Tesco sales jump by 30% amid coronavirus panic buying
Panic buying in recent weeks saw Tesco's sales jump by around 30 per cent.
The supermarket giant said supply of some items was wiped out, though that has now stabilised across the group and “more normal sales volumes are being experienced”.
It added that the company has recruited 45,000 more staff members in a bid to cope with soaring demand during the coronavirus pandemic.
A statement said: "In the first few weeks of the crisis, significant panic buying (c.30% uplift in the UK) cleared the supply chain of certain items. This has now stabilised across the Group and more normal sales volumes are being experienced."
Dave Lewis, chief executive of Tesco, said: “Covid-19 has shown how critical the food supply chain is to the UK and I’m very proud of the way Tesco, as indeed the whole UK food industry, has stepped forward.
“In this time of crisis we have focused on four things; food for all, safety for everyone, supporting our colleagues and supporting our communities.
“Initial panic buying has subsided and service levels are returning to normal.
“There are significant extra costs in feeding the nation at the moment but these are partially offset by the UK business rates relief.”
Coronavirus panic buying saw supermarket shelves wiped out in recent weeks as people stocked up on items such as dried food and toilet paper.
A number of stores put measures in place to restrict purchases.
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