Fear has clearly taken hold of some consumers. Several large retailers reported Monday a large influx in their stores of customers eager to stock up on basic necessities, such as pasta, rice or hygiene products. Their objective: to make reservations in the event that the epidemic of new coronavirus forces them to containment.
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Several Auchan hypermarkets have thus been " robbed ", with departments emptied of their products, " and in particular those of pasta ", reports a spokesperson for the group contacted by AFP. The phenomenon was noted " everywhere in France, and not only in the areas where cases of infected persons have been reported ".
But no shortage in sight, he says: " we have anticipated our stocks, customers have nothing to fear ", even if this " type of behavior, completely irrational, can be a source of shortage since it disturbs the procurement process . " In Issy-Les-Moulineaux, an Auchan store is suffering the brunt of this phenomenon: " We had 50% of what we should have on the shelves this Monday morning ," explains a manager at Le Figaro . " The acceleration of sales is much stronger for the products affected by the shortage (pasta, etc.) for which sales double or even triple, " he continues. The two entities dedicated to the brand's " drive ", ChronoDrive and AuchanDrive, saw increases in orders this weekend " of the order of 50 to 70%, or even 100% in the Creil area ", in Oise, one of the two main centers of spread of the virus in France (36 cases on Monday). " It's very impressive: people clearly don't want to take the risk of going to the store and getting in touch with anyone, " he explains.
It is by speaking of a shortage that we will create one
A manager of a supermarket chainAnother distributor claims to AFP that he also noted this weekend " an increased demand for basic necessities " in his supermarkets: pasta, rice, baby diapers and soap. This strong demand led to " partial stock-outs " but without the risk of shortage, the situation having been " anticipated ". There too, a large influx in drives and home delivery service was noted, and " everywhere in France ". At Intermarché, we say that the objective is to ensure the " priority mission " of food distribution, " including in difficult circumstances ". The brand has seen a 30% increase in attendance in its drives, said a spokesman for Le Figaro .
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" We must remain reasonable, not rush, " said one at System U, which notably owns Super U or Hyper U. " We have noticed the concern of consumers this weekend," explains a manager at Le Figaro . In our store in Compiègne (Oise) for example, we observed a 150% increase in volume on canned vegetables. Like Intermarché, Système U saw a 30% increase in frequentation in its drives throughout France, with an average basket larger than usual and more essential products, explains the spokesperson. " Instead of taking a package of pasta, consumers have taken two or three, " he says.
Another brand warns: “It is by talking about a shortage that we are going to create one. This brand, like the others contacted, also has no supply problems. " We have secured inventory in store, " said a spokesperson. Same story with Leclerc and Picard: “ there is no shortage of products. "
