Supermarkets to ‘ration’ groceries
(CNS): In the face of the continued and excessive bulk purchasing by many customers at the local supermarkets as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the owners of Kirk, Hurley’s and Foster’s supermarkets, including Priced Right, have come together to agree purchase limits for customers from Monday on almost all groceries except fresh goods and bakery items. The supermarket bosses said this was not a cause for panic but to ensure that everyone in Cayman gets a chance to buy what they need.
In a press release Saturday, the three supermarket owners said that they had no difficulties at this point sourcing most goods but this rationing is to curb the ongoing panic buying and to urge shoppers to behave logically over goods with a long shelf life.
“While we’re all still receiving multiple shipments per week, the challenges we continue to face to ensure products are on the shelves are many,” the supermarket owners said. “In an effort to ensure product is available for as many of our country’s citizens as possible, we have decided to implement… product limits across all Foster’s Supermarket, Priced Right, Kirk Market, and Hurley’s Marketplace locations.”
Shoppers will now only be allowed to buy two of any identical products per UPC (the barcode number) per customer on the entire grocery, frozen, and health and beauty care department items. However, there will be no limits on meat, seafood, produce, dairy, deli and bakery.
Explaining what this limitation means, the supermarkets said that, for example, a customer can purchase two Quaker Instant Oatmeal Original Flavor and two Quaker Instant Oatmeal Variety Packs because they do not have identical bar codes.
Even as shipments continue to arrive regularly, the supermarket bosses said they are also looking for more product from any quality source they can.
“We’ve come together to help ensure product is available for as many people as possible during this uncertain time,” the store owners said. “Putting the product limits in place stops panic buying and should keep products on the shelf longer. In speaking with our suppliers, we will continue to get product and shipping lines continue to say that the ships will sail. We continue to urge people to look at their shopping and consumption habits during this time, and plan for the coming weeks.”
The owners said that despite the uncertainty around COVID-19 customers can rest assured that the local supermarkets are taking action to keep shelves stocked and stores clean for customers. Asking people to remain calm, they urged customers to “think rationally and use proper hygiene practices throughout the day”.
Customers are also encouraged to designate one shopper per household to reduce the number of people in store, avoid doubling up on items, maintain safe social distancing, use a debit or credit card to pay, when possible and to sanitize hands, shopping carts and basket handles.
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Thanks for the humorous quips to lift the spirit. As Benjamin Franklin said “If we don’t hang together we will all hang separately.”
Thank God my Breadfruit trees are covered with Breadfruits and my coconut trees are loaded-
Will eat rundown for a while-
Police need to shut down the fish market on waterfront. People there crowded in a herd, no social distancing, no sah
That and empty lots where third world fishermen are squatting on and are full of people. Just drive down prospect and see.
There are an equal number of those who only think of themselves and those who have the ability to think of needs of others. It’s how the world stays balanced. You can see from the comments which is which. Plan accordingly.
Another grade A move by the grocery store mafia.
It’s nice to know that a single man / woman, can purchase the same amount of non perishable goods as the man / woman, who does the grocery shopping for his or her family of 5 (plus elderly relatives).
How about you just stop people from unrealistic buying? You know, 17 packets of spaghetti? Or enough bog roll to wipe a herd of elephant’s arses who went on a bender at agave?
I personally shop for a family of 4, and have offered to shop for my elderly parents to keep them away from what is potentially a death sentence for them. Should I be subject to the same restrictions as a single person?
It already pains me to support some of these establishments. Please don’t force my hand any further.
Have the stores announced any significant discounts for the people who are struggling to stay afloat?
What a crap shoot this is.
Conversation that I overheard from a couple who barged in front of me while I was looking at the meager selection of pasta at Foster’s:
Woman: Do we have pasta at home?
Man: Yes. We have plenty of pasta,
Woman: How much pasta do we have?
Man: We have nine packs.
Woman: We should get more.
And, right in front of me, she grabbed the rest of the spaghetti on the shelf.
If there is Karma in the world, this woman will gain 20 pounds of the next month.
And sadly, you may both lose 20 in the months that follow. At least she will have some fat in reserve.
If Cayman gets to the point of needing fat reserves to survive, you have bigger problems to worry about.
But, in the Carribbean, that is considered good karma.
I ran to the homestore and bulk bought tarps, ropes, outdoor bbq’s and flashlights….i may have misread the news
At least you got some exercise. I would have probably used my car.
The one thing that no one has mentioned is that the Covid-19 cannot survive in heat and humidity.
CNS: No one responsible says that because it’s not true. See the WHO – COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in areas with hot and humid climates
There’s a lot of rubbish out there which, if people just believe it will increase the spread of COVID-19 and more people will die. Please make sure you get your information from reliable sources.
Human body is 37’F and moist.
If your body is 37F you are dead – in fact, not only dead, but in a fridge.
Your point?
2.49pm and CNS According to news reports today it has been established the rate of infection transmission is definitely lower in cold weather.
CNS: And other news reports say the rate of infection is definitely quicker in cold weather, which makes more sense considering the fact that it’s been rapidly spreading in the UK this time of year. This is a new virus and scientists are studying it as fast as they can to see if there are patterns. I’m not disputing that there will be new information, only urging that people use credible sources.
According to news reports people who forward stories on social media based on unverified “news reports” are irresponsible idiots.
When the liquor stores start rationing that’s when there’s a real crisis…
Precisely. They already confiscated that harmless herb.
Oh dear god! I’d completely forgotten about the alcoholics in all of this. Who looking out for our problem drinkers?!
We good. We can take care of ourselves.
Nah, not true man. You are famous for having enablers.
Meanwhile, Rolston Anglin (once again) crashed into the KRyS Roundabout by CostULess last Tuesday and failed to provide a breath specimen…conflating his sleep apnea with narcolepsy to attending officers! You can’t make this stuff up.
Perhaps he was in a hurry to get the last roll of toilet paper.
Actually third time.
I’ve been bulk buying feminine products. Great captive investment opportunity.
Unfortunately this also stops good from happening.
On Friday I went to Progressive Distributors with the intention of purchasing $1000 worth of canned items to take to the nearby food bank.
They couldn’t see past the fear of hoarding and I left empty handed.
CNS: I think in cases like this you should call ahead and talk to someone with authority to arrange an exception. What if everyone went to the stores and said they were bulk buying for a foodbank?
Buy vouchers
Donate the money to the food bank. They will then be able to buy the necessary items.
I have not seen anyone bulk buying. What I did ,and am seeing is wise people buying 2 weeks supplies at one time so I am able to stay away from going in the store every few days.
Which is the only safe way to play this. Forcing people to make frequent trips from their homes only raises the danger for everyone. Can everyone please get on the same page. The supermarkets may now unfortunately be forcing people to act in contravention of the advice of doctors! Why are supermarkets closed today?
bs….people should only buy what they normally buy.end of story.
stop trying to come up with excuses for bulk buying.
Many households will need to buy significantly more than usual from the supermarket to eat and drink because they have numerous mouths eating three meals per day from home, rather than 1-2 meals per day from home in normal circumstances. Same applies to loo roll!
Everyone needs to be put ina position whereby they have at least two weeks food etc. at home. If we do not do that no effective lockdown will be possible!
People bulk buying whilst others go without #caymankind
Stop bashing Caymankind. If we weren’t kind and accomodating we wouldn’t be overun by foreigners as we are. Hoarding is happening all over the world.
You’re welcome.
Ok – while I agree with your underlying sentiment, what your post does – probably unintentionally – is give the Caymanian who are hoarding a free pass on their actions because it was raised by an expat (assumedly). Make no mistake, hoarding is being done by multiple nationalities and probably more so by Caymanians (status and generational) because they tend to have homes with more storage space and are used to the hoarding instinct because of experience with hurricanes, particularly Ivan. If you change the bigoted irony attempt (#caymankind) in the original to #selfish, the original post was spot on. And that selfishness applies to all nationalities, including Caymanians.
Not in Europe….there is no sights of empty shelves there!
American here. Stop with the bigoted, sophomoric comments.
If you start to limit persons that are unable to purchase more than two items per a visit doesn’t that mean you are basically forcing me to shop every other day which would place me more at risk of catching the virus? I have animals which means they have to be fed everyday so 2 cans of dog or cat food is not going to cut it. Can’t the supermarkets just order more shipments to supply the demand?
Go to cost u less and buy a crate of dog food you twat!
Price Right sells dog and cat food by the case…
great stuff from the stores. people(mainly women) have created an issue out of nothing.
What a sexists stupid comment.
whats wrong with being sexy?
No wonder Coronavirus is killing twice as many men than women.
Thank dog
The Bounty Hunter?
At least we can prove he exists. I prefer to not use fairytale names to thank.
like everything else with this crisis….people through their own stupidity have created the problem
So as we just flew back in and under quarantine, how are we supposed to get more supplies.
I can order just 2 tins of beans at in a shop am i supposed to order each day?
Mind you the airport did not ask is anyone else lived with us.
There are limits imposed and there are people who go to Fosters every day and pick up two of the item each day, by the end of the week they have hoarded ten of the particular item.
Ignorant and selfish.
I watched someone ask if she could buy two of different brand name TPs each. What the crap people? Get what you need, not the whole store.
I’ve been trying to buy Dettol for my first aid kit for 3 weeks now…also still trying to figure out why it’s being shelved with cleaning supplies rather than medical
Supermarkets should have their security personnel explain people to keep distance.
Caymanians and jamaicans still are in my face as usual.
STAY AWAY FROM ME !!!!
YOU stay away from us. Youre the ones coming from outbreak countries. I had to ask an expat to keep their distance just yesterday. Up my a$$ with their shopping on the conveyor while im still trying to put my PIN into the debt card terminal which is on a short leash.
And everyone typing their pins on the same terminal, one after another, with no protections …
Bring a wipe with you.
Been looking to buy a single container of wipes for over two weeks now. Been to three different Foster’s, Kirk’s, Cost-u-Less and Priced Right and can’t buy a one. And can’t buy a single can of Lysol, or a single of hand sanitizer or even a single bottle of isopropyl alcohol to make my own hand sanitizer. Now I’m staying at home, trying to be responsible, and will limit by grocery trip to once a week. I can’t buy any of those things again, because too many people need 12 – 15 of each of those items themselves. Maybe with these limits, I will have a chance. Luckily, though, I always buy toilet paper in bulk (one big pack) and still have enough to get by for a while.
Soon the supermarkets will figure out that the cards can just be tapped on the machines. Cayman time. Patience.
Only if both the card and the machine are set up for it. My debit card is, my credit card – both from Butterfield – is not. And the majority of machines are more than a couple of years old and not set up for it.
Put a condom on your finger. Keep it to use for every purchase.
Coming from outbreak countries. What an ignorant and urterly stupid comment. This is a global pandemic. Distance is one thing because is super markets especially everyone is running around hoarding for the apocalypse well not taking into consideration the basics to prevent it.
Wow. Calm down bro. Maybe you should go shelter in place with your own peeps. Just sayin.
The grocery stores themselves are prepetuating the crisis but limiting alcohol, wipes, toilet paper etc.The stores have these items but are putting them on the selves in a very deliberate way. I agree the public has gone into panic mode but the store owners are equally part of the problem. We the public also need to ensure that we are not giving/handing over our rights to the goverment.
The four persons who commented must be special individuals. 😒
We need to do all we reasonably can to reduce our population, now!
Of course we do. Our healthcare and food supplies risk becomming overloaded and there is no way the NAU has the resources to support thousands of unemployed. Everyone should stop acting like this will be over in a few weeks. A
longer view needs to be taken to get through this.
What people need to do is to take off their blinkers. Look outside the box focusing on viable solutions and alternatives instead of complaining and blaming others. If ever there was a time we all need to pull together as one world, rather than one nationality, its now.
Covid taking care of that.
Yep, Contraception 3.19.
It is such a shame that we have to resort to these measures. For an Island that claims to have been founded on Christian values this bulk buying is incredibly selfish and thoughtless. I am thankful that the supermarkets are trying to put a stop to this. It’s just incredibly depressing that it has to be put into place. Come on Cayman we can do better than this. Think of others not just yourselves.
Hey supermarkets owners…put the price like buy one toilet pack for $12 but second one is $50. That will stop selfish people buy in bulk.
No. It will mean that rich people get all the supplies. Idiot.
Naw. Lots of rich people just as cheap as you and me.
Two cans of catfood per trip and so I will have to go to the store twice a day?
Let them eat tuna!
Or better yet eat the cat
No. Get different flavours you numpty.
They only eat one flavour.
Then open the front door and let them fend for themselves.
CNS: Terrible advice. “Fend for themselves” means eating all the native baby birds and lizards. You can see why that’s not good, right?
Need to make sure that they are back inside by curfew, which is difficult for cats since they dont have watches,,
Privileged cats! Suspect when they get hungry they will eat other flavours – of their pickiness is actually a function of your imagination. They are cats for heavens sake, not Paris Hilton.
Read the story – you can only buy two tins of the SAME barcode at a time. Unless you’ve got very fussy cats that shouldn’t be a problem.
Yes they only eat one flavour or they have explosive sh…
Plenty lizards and rats around, tell them yo go hunting. If all you have to worry about is you cats you are ok. Be grateful!,
Aaaand, the goes the ecosystem that dart’s bulldozers didn’t already kill.
That’s not a cat problem, that’s an owner problem. If you feed cats the same thing day after day this is what happens. They should have been trained to eat whatever was put in front of them or go hungry. I’ve got a neighbor who made this problem for themselves. Their cat has been spoiled with fancy food because he’s ‘special’ so now if she puts ordinary cat food out for the thing it just turns its nose up at it. This is a problem of your own making.
This is exactly why I will now only eat Margene’s chicken.
I guess it’s going to be explosive around your house then.
Or get rid of that annoying cat.
Tastes like chicken.
That’s how we got into this mess in the first place…
Yes, that is why I need to keep them eating their special food so that when needs must…
Cats plural.
I recommend you set up an account with an importer such as US LInk (who are remaining open next week), and purchase on Amazon and have shipped in. This will also ease the strain on the grocery stores.
Buy different ‘flavors’ of cat food 😳
While that is a problem for you, there is clearly a larger issue at present that needs to be delt with for the protection of the country as a whole.
Also you can buy cat food in packs of 6…
No. Buy two of the same kind. Then two of a different kind – but I doubt cat food is on the list
Get two of different flavors and you should be ok
Buy a case from cost u less, or two cans of each of the different flavours. Or different brands. Or different sizes.
Geez some people like to complain
What stupidest talking forever about cat food, when its a crises going on
I agree. Doh! Now I’m talking about the furry little trouble makers!
Exactly! I want to talk about dog food instead!
Surely we’ve not resorted to having to eat cat food already…
The bulk buyers are ignorant in depriving others especially those of limited means. However this selfish ignorance will not stop them unloading their spoils in their massive SUV”s and returning straight back to shop for more using a different cashier
YES, please stop bringing your whole family to the store!!!
These three seem to collude well all year round when it comes to establishing ridiculous prices for products, so this should be easy.
Agreed… one person per family should be the limit. More people in the stores just creates more problems and more potential for spread of illness.
The end times are here. REPENT!
Idiot.
Idiocy is also a forgivable sin🙏🏼
Technically, you shouldn’t be able to utter those words.
Why not?
Admittedly we have a ways to go, but let the person speak freely.
Can’t stand when people that will die think they are superior to people that will die.