Some retailers have seen a dramatic increase in sales of essential goods after the government called for people to stock up in case of a crisis, according to figures obtained by Newsnight.
The Iceland supermarket chain said it was “clear” consumers had listened to warnings after it saw a 40% increase in sales of tinned products over the weekend.
The rise in sales came after Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that people should stockpile goods to prepare for an emergency such as a cyber attack or an extreme weather event.
Robert Dyas reported a 160% increase in sales of radios compared with last week, while Maplin said sales had increased by 92% in radios, 284% in torches and 106% in power banks.
The Maplin figures cover the period since the government’s announcement last week compared with the same period last month.
“Within hours of the Be Ready announcement we saw people reach for the basics – a torch, a wind-up radio, a power bank. Torch sales nearly quadrupled and radio sales almost doubled in three days,” said Ollie Marshall, managing director at Maplin.
“These are simple, affordable products that keep a household connected and informed when the power goes out, and it’s encouraging to see people taking the advice seriously.”