Morrisons reinstates rationing of essentials such as toilet roll, hand sanitiser and soap in its stores. Credit: harrypope via flickr.

Tesco becomes the latest UK supermarket chain after rival Morrisons in reintroducing purchase limits on select essential products in its stores amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

On 24 September, Morrisons became the first large supermarket in the UK to reintroduce the purchase limits to ensure that the essential products are ‘available for everyone’ and to stop ‘panic-buying’ among customers.

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Tesco introduced a limit of three items per customer on items such as dried pasta, flour, toilet roll, anti-bacterial wipes.

Morrisons imposed a purchase limit of three on most cleaning products, as well as kitchen roll and Calpol. Additionally, Morrisons is introducing purchasing cap on flour, rice and oil.

According to a supplier to major supermarket chain, sales of toilet rolls surged by 23% over the past week, reported The Guardian.

A few months ago, during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic, supermarkets imposed purchase limits as people were stockpiling goods fearing lack of availability due to lockdown measures.

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Meanwhile, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) urged consumers to be considerate of others.

BRC food and sustainability director Andrew Opie said: “Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under a future lockdown. Nonetheless, we urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would.”

In June, Australian supermarket chain Woolworths restored purchase limit of two items on a few products across Victorian stores.