Sales of essential goods such as bottled water and canned food rose sharply in the 10 days after the government launched its "Be Ready" emergency preparedness campaign on 22 October, research indicates.
Data from retail research firm Worldpanel by Numerator shows hand sanitizer sales were up 83%, bottled water sales rose 67% and tinned and jarred goods climbed 37%.
The public awareness campaign encouraged people to stock up in case severe weather or cyberattacks disrupt essential services. It advised households to keep three days' worth of food and water at home. Wet wipes, a flashlight and cash were also recommended.
Worldpanel said households were stockpiling essentials but were not panic buying.
After the campaign launch, the equivalent of an extra 400,000 people a day bought tinned meat. The typical amount stayed at 500g, which suggests a gradual stocking-up, the firm said.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel by Numerator, said: "Shoppers clearly took notice of the 'Be Ready' campaign, but this wasn't panic buying, with less than a third of households buying bottled water in October."
He added: "Growth came from more people adding the recommended items on the government's checklist to their weekly shop, not from shoppers piling their trolleys high, which is very much in line with what the government wanted households to do."
Further evidence of stockpiling came on Tuesday from food firm Princes, which said demand for tinned tuna, meat and vegetables had risen following the campaign. Interim chief executive Giuseppe Mastrolia said the jump in demand "further reinforces the relevance of our core categories in providing affordable, nutritious and convenient food solutions".
The campaign warns that severe weather and cyberattacks could disrupt essential services, and that British households need to make sure they have what they need. Examples include bottled water and long-life food that does not need to be kept in the fridge, such as dried fruit and nuts.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said everyone should have "those supplies in the house to get you through those moments".
Source: BBC
