Sales of tinned food, torches and wind-up radios have jumped across the UK since the government urged households to keep three days of emergency supplies at home.
The Cabinet Office launched its “Be Ready” campaign on Thursday 22 October. Within days, specialist and high-street sellers were reporting sharp rises, while the biggest grocers played down any panic.
What the sales figures show
Figures obtained by BBC Newsnight, as reported by GB News, show Iceland sold 40% more tinned products over the weekend. The frozen food chain also saw strong demand for bottled water but said its supplies “remain healthy”.
Robert Dyas reported radio sales up 160% on the previous week. Maplin recorded rises of 92% for radios, 284% for torches and 106% for power banks, according to the same report.
The Guardian reported that Maplin’s home security camera sales were also up 130%. The retailer said its own stock limits had held back sales, with power banks especially tight.
Online grocer Ocado showed several lines as unavailable soon after the launch, LBC reported. They included baked beans, batteries, some soups and brands of bottled water such as Volvic, Highland Spring and Brecon Carreg. Ocado said it would work with suppliers to keep shelves stocked.
Prepper and survival sites saw the biggest jumps from the smallest bases. The Guardian said EvaQ8 sold about 300 wind-up radios over the weekend, against a usual 15. Sgt Prepper said trade was 10 to 15 times busier than normal.
The National reported that Preppers Shop UK recorded a 650% rise in sales of “off-grid” items.
Shelves, storms and caution
Several major supermarkets told the Guardian they had seen no material change in demand for tinned goods. They said the cooler, stormy weather was more likely to be lifting sales of soup and beans.
The National noted that the guidance came shortly before Storm Austen and Storm Boelo hit the UK at the weekend, a time when such goods tend to sell better anyway.
The British Retail Consortium said some retailers had seen a small uptick in some lines but that availability remained strong. Industry sources warned that photos of bare shelves on social media may show only one brand sold out, with alternatives just out of shot.
EvaQ8’s founder, Zaid Al-Mufti, does not expect the rush to last. “History has shown us people’s attention span doesn’t last long,” he said, according to the Guardian.
What officials actually recommend
The advice aims to help households cope for 72 hours if power, water, phones or the internet fail. It is the first stage of a three-year campaign, with a checklist on a new site, beready.campaign.gov.uk, according to Politis. The same report said officials stressed it was not a warning of any imminent threat.
The guidance, as reported by Politis, SOFX and others, lists:
- Drinking water: at least three litres per person per day, or nine litres each for three days.
- Long-life food that needs no cooking or fridge, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts.
- A torch, a power bank and a battery or wind-up FM radio.
- A first aid kit and any regular medication.
- Cash in a mix of notes and coins.
- Supplies for babies and pets where relevant.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Having a few everyday essentials at home, from tinned food to torches, helps households prepare for disruption.”
Government research cited by Politis found only 13% of people feel prepared for a serious disruption to essential services.
Sources: The Guardian, The National, LBC, GB News, Politis, SOFX
This story was compiled by the MDW Newsdesk with AI-assisted tools, using the reporting credited above.
