Stores have seen a huge surge in sales in recent days, with items such as toilet roll, cleaning fluids, dried pasta and tinned foods among those selling out in many shops.
In an effort to maintain supplies, some stores have placed restrictions on the number of items which can be bought.
Similar scenes of panic-buying have played out in supermarkets in the UK and other parts of the world as fears grow over the effects of the coronavirus.
After being contacted by worried and vulnerable Islanders, as well as witnessing the scenes first hand, Council chairman Carl Walker contacted the bosses of the Co-op, Waitrose, Tesco and SandpiperCI – franchisees for Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Iceland – during the weekend to arrange a meeting this morning.
‘We urgently need to get a clear and direct message to all Islanders that bulk or panic-buying in such a small community is causing a serious problem for those on limited incomes or those paid weekly, such as labourers and pensioners,’ he said.
‘They cannot afford to bulk-buy and they are telling us that by the time they arrive in the shops, either what they are looking for has gone, or it is only the more expensive options left on the shelves.
‘Equally, we are seeing some Islanders getting caught up in the panic and buying huge quantities of particular items in fear that they may run out. This then leaves them hugely out of pocket.
‘Getting the big four supermarkets around the table will itself send a clear message to Islanders that this is a serious issue and we hope that Islanders will listen, understand and moderate the way they are going about their shopping,’ added Mr Walker.
Discussions about how the elderly or vulnerable will receive their food shopping when further restrictions are imposed were also due to take place at the meeting.
The Government of Jersey has also urged shoppers not to panic and buy more than they need.
In a tweet, they said: ‘We’re a small, strong community and we need to look after each other, so please consider others and do not buy more than you need.’
And during a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Health Minister Richard Renouf asked shoppers not to panic-buy.
‘Think of others and only buy what you need,’ he said.
