Ukraine war sparks Europe rush to buy survival gear and food

Clas Ohlson AB

16/03/2022 14:02

By Emma Thomasson and Helena Soderpalm
    BERLIN/STOCKHOLM, March 16 (Reuters) - Europeans are
stocking up on survival gear like sleeping bags and camping
cookers, as well as canned and dried food, in part to donate to
refugees arriving from Ukraine and also due to fears of supplies
being disrupted and conflict spreading.
    Sales of products such as plastic cans, camping gear,
batteries, flashlights and cell phone solar chargers jumped as
much as sixfold in the past two weeks at Swedish hardware store
chain Clas Ohlsson  CLASb.ST , a spokesperson said.
    "It's clear that people want to be prepared for crises. The
biggest increase is for products recommended to have at home
during a crisis, for example radios," he said.
    Sales of milk powder, pasta, grains, and canned foods rose
by up to 20% in the past four weeks, according to Swedish
grocery retailer Ica Gruppen ICAA.ST .
    Consumers are stocking up for themselves while humanitarian
organizations are also buying products to send to Ukraine,
according to Ica Sweden purchasing director Andreas Sbrodigliga.
    In the Netherlands, Jimmy Bakker at outdoor supplier
Dumpstore Amsterdam, has seen brisk trade since the war started.
    "When the war broke out people were buying emergency
blankets, emergency food rations, radios and stoves. Last week,
people rented vehicles and they were going to drive to Ukraine
to hand out there," he said.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments that Moscow's
nuclear deterrent is on high alert had already prompted people
in Central Europe to rush to buy iodine which they believe may
protect them from radiation.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2V47QK
    In Poland, which has taken in more than half of the 3
million refugees fleeing Ukraine, convenience store chain Zabka
reported higher sales of canned goods, rice, groats and bottled
water in some regions due to collections for refugees.
    Hygiene products like wet wipes, gels, soaps, toothpastes
and porridges are also flying off the shelves in Poland,
according to drugstore chain Rossmann.
    In Germany, where 175,000 refugees from Ukraine have been
registered so far, sales of camping products like sleeping bags
and mats have jumped in the past two weeks at sports chain
Decathlon, a spokesperson said.
    The company said it has also donated camping products to
humanitarian organisations helping in Ukraine.
    
    TEMPORARY CAP ON OIL AND FLOUR SALES
    German wholesaler Metro  B4B.DE  has temporarily set a cap
on the amount shoppers can buy of certain products, such as
cooking oils and flour, but said it sees no reason for consumers
to stockpile, adding fresh supplies are on the way.
    "We are currently observing high demand from our commercial
customers for various long-life foods, which can be attributed
to the purchase of relief supplies, among other things," a
spokesperson said.
    Ukraine is a major global producer and exporter of grain and
vegetable oils, but officials and farmers expect a decline in
the 2022 harvest and exports due to the war.    
    Germany's BGA trade association warned last week that the
Ukraine war could cause bottlenecks in the food trade as well as
threaten supplies of toilet paper and kitchen roll, and chemical
cleaning agents.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2VD3CJ
    Transport problems were exacerbated by higher fuel costs and
a shortage of Ukrainian truck drivers, it said.
    However, most retailers have bolstered their supply chains
since COVID-19 lockdowns triggered panic buying in 2020.
    "We live in difficult times, but at the moment there is no
room for panic," Dimitar Margaritov, Chairman of Bulgaria's
Consumer Protection Commission, told national radio.
    Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize  AD.AS  said it saw higher
sales at its stores in the Czech Republic due to people buying
donations for refugees, but no cause for concern.
    "Our supply chain in Europe is quite robust at this point
and we have enough products for our customers in stock and at
our suppliers,” the company said.

 (Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch, Anna Pruchnicka,
Siddharth Cavale, Richa Naidu, Matthias Inverardi, writing by
Emma Thomasson, editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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