Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Supermarket items out of stock

(141 Posts)
Stoker48 Fri 15-May-20 07:45:10

After the initial panic, it’s very reassuring that most items are readily available. I live on my own and am quite minimal in my needs, so no complaints from me.
I’ve had the same breakfast for twenty years ( apart from Holidays) and have recently run out. I’m a Kellogg’s Fruit and Fibre addict and there’s not a box to be found!!
Yes, there are the own brand cereals but I’ve never found one that comes anywhere near the branded product.
Anyone else missing their favorite items?
This is certainly not a moan, just an observation, by enlarge plenty of items in the shops and queues not too long as a rule.
Cheers, all. Beautiful morning here x

newnanny Fri 15-May-20 13:37:41

Shopping online with Morrisons. For 2 weeks could get no free-range eggs. Got them on Monday though. No Morrisons flour but given McDougalls. Only allowed 2 loaves of Warberton's bread but wanted 3 loaves to last week. Only allowed 4 cat milk but have 6 cats so need 7 but neighbors get me 3 on their order as no cats. No yeast for 3 weeks in a row. Used all yeast from cupboard. Got some last week and this week though. I could not get Morrisons decaff tea bags for 4 weeks and they are only ones I like so had to drink coffee. Got 2 boxes this week though.

Leolady73 Fri 15-May-20 13:45:58

Anyone else feeling sad and disappointed by the lack of communication from their grown up grandchildren. I have six from 16 years to 24. Some live away and some local and the only time we speak is when I initiate it. I’m so upset I’m thinking of altering my will.

Freeandeasy Fri 15-May-20 13:47:28

Printer paper! None in Tesco - shelves were bare. I suppose it’s because so many people are working from home. I only buy a ream once in a blue moon so always get it from Tesco when I shop. Oh well, looks like I’ll have a 30 minute walk to my local Range - but I bet the queues will be horrendous as their garden centres are now open. By the way, when I shopped at my local M&S at a retail park on Wednesday (Tesco is also close by so I combine the two) there was a young assistant telling us all in the queue that the whole of the store was now open for business as usual - i.e. you could purchase clothes and pay at the food till. BUT, if you did that, then you would lose your place in the queue! The food queue was one-way. Madness! Why would anyone do that? I think it shows how their profits have fallen and they are desperate for the money.

Theoddbird Fri 15-May-20 13:49:18

I suggest you get adventurous and have a different cereal Maybe Jordan's. Supermarkets are trying to more of some basics. This is the reason less selection.

WOODMOUSE49 Fri 15-May-20 13:52:18

Really shocked at those who've had flour in their deliveries. After 4 deliveries (mainly Morrisons) I never been successful even though it looks like in stock when I order. I really miss it as love baking. Managed to get some ready made pastry - rubbish. Waitrose was the worst. It is never in stock for on line deliveries as it reserve all supplies for those who go into the store (so my Waitrose delivery man told me)

DH is a Fruit and Fibre person Stoker48 and won't have anything but Morrison's.

Maggymay Fri 15-May-20 13:54:03

Just had Asda delivery only 1 item unavailable and 4 subs all just different brands , a definite improvement on other weeks when it has been up to 13 subs.

rosenoir Fri 15-May-20 13:54:13

Aldi here has never run out of flour.

Off subject but in support of the 20 year the same breakfast lady, I have had the same breakfast since being a child, so over 50 years. Toast and marmalade.

janeainsworth Fri 15-May-20 13:54:54

Leolady I don’t have any grown up grandchildren so can’t comment on your situation, but you would be better to start your own thread. You should get more responses that way.

janeainsworth Fri 15-May-20 14:01:02

I’ve had the same breakfast for 30 years too, ever since we had a weekend at the Nanny Brow Hotel in the Lake District.
Porridge oats soaked in milk, with stewed apricots and prunes, topped with Greek yoghurt. I now add a seed & nut mix.

We were without potatoes for over a week when Morrison’s ran out. After a week of pasta, rice and bread for the carbohydrate element of the meal, I was surprised to find I was actually craving a baked potato.
Rectified with the last delivery though, and most of the substitutions have been fine, if in some cases a little amusing.

annodomini Fri 15-May-20 14:29:43

I bought plain flour from a catering supplies company (creamsupplies.com) recommended by DS2. DS1 got flour from his local pub which has set up as a corner shop during the lock-down. My sons are useful sources of information! I found some instant dried yeast at the back of a cupboard. Two years past 'best before' but was perfectly satisfactory. My neighbours, who do my shopping, couldn't find brown sugar but gave me some that they had. Their kids enjoyed the flapjack I made with it.

JaneRn Fri 15-May-20 14:59:24

Waitrose were restricting on-line orders for some items from, say, 3 packs of eggs to 2, and also some restrictions on other products in the dairy section which seems fair so that everyone can at least get some. My order arrived yesterday. only one item unavailable.

I did not panic-buy the first time around but I have an uneasy feeling that things could go wrong, ie increase in Covid deaths,and we may be in for another lockdown so I shall make sure my store cupboards and freezer are full. Does anyone else feel the same?

Calendargirl Fri 15-May-20 15:12:57

I noticed on the soap shelf at Tesco a notice saying to hang on to your pump dispensers as they were in short supply. Perhaps they are doing more refill packs?

millymouge Fri 15-May-20 15:16:13

I actually went shopping today!!!! First time in 9 weeks, felt quite odd. Had decided to stay in because of age not health, so DD’s doing it. But missed a couple of essentials off the last shop so decided to go to our local M&S food hall. Waited out side for about 5 minutes and then in, and they seemed to have everything. No shortage at all. People were keeping well away from everyone, and it was very quiet. Both flour and eggs aplenty!!! Think I shall try to persuade them we can manage and shop there!!

Greenfinch Fri 15-May-20 15:22:54

A kind GN member who lives a few miles away from me managed to get some flour( both plain and SR) in Aldi's today which she has offered to me. As I am shielding, my son in law will collect it for me. It is really thoughtful of her as she knew I was completely out of it.

kathyd Fri 15-May-20 15:24:41

Jaycee5 = Brakes was always a commercial enterprise delivering reaady meals to hotels/restaurants etc. Maybe they have diversified into domestic deliveries.
I was extremely surprised one day to see them delivering to a restaurant in France!

Daisyboots Fri 15-May-20 15:35:33

clareken just a suggestion if your daughter cant get gf flour Holland Barrett sell it. I live abroad and order dried fruit etc from them and noticed gf flour on there and I believe on buy one get one half price when I received an email yesterday.

Jaycee5 Fri 15-May-20 15:41:33

kathyd Yes, I've looked them up and that explains why they weren't around before but now have trucks around so quickly. Maybe companies like that are why supermarkets are now coping better.
I think that they have all managed well considering the massive and sudden change they all had to make to their basic business model.
The delivery people have all been really nice and friendly.

paddyanne Fri 15-May-20 15:47:50

redcurrant jelly cant be had for love nor money here ,or 3ltr bottles of cooking oil .I was lucky to get some spices from the owner of our local shop as garam masala seems to have fled the area too.

Daisyboots Fri 15-May-20 15:50:07

bizzle Holland and Barrett sell dried chickpeas and splits peas and they can be ordered online and sent to you if that helps

Wibby Fri 15-May-20 15:59:28

Im grateful for what ever I can get during these times.

Tabbycat Fri 15-May-20 16:11:08

Over the past few weeks, I suspect from the panic buying that went on, I have noticed shortages of:-
toilet rolls
paper hankies and kitchen towels
pasta
tinned tomatoes
butter
tinned pulses (like red kidney beans)
stock cubes
disinfectant
hand sanitiser
eggs
Everything seems to be available again now, although the last three items still seem to be in short supply around here!

allule Fri 15-May-20 16:21:02

I was relieved to find my favourite gin still available, but then found all the classy tonic water had disappeared.

Nannyfrance Fri 15-May-20 16:23:12

I managed to get some flour today in Tesco. It is in plain white plastic bags and not in its usual place, do ask one of the assistants. I have still not been able to buy white wine vinegar though.

narrowboatnan Fri 15-May-20 16:48:21

DH managed to get SR flour last week. Took great care on his way home not to get mugged for it. Honestly, we could put it in small bags and sell it on street corners like some sort of dealers!

Eggs we were lucky with, found some at a garden gate stall at 50p (yes, that's right!) a box of 6 so he bought two dozen

Saggi Fri 15-May-20 16:59:58

All that’s missing from my cupboard is Flour. Can’t get it anywhere.