While Britain's fourth-biggest supermarket group reported a surge in painkillers and toilet rolls sales, others chose to replenish their supplies of tuna and water.
— Karen Tso (@cnbcKaren) March 13, 2019
The looming and still very much disorderly Brexit has apparently affected UK shoppers, who didn't shy away from "small amount" of stockpiling, as suggested by Morrisons Chief Executive David Potts.
"We've seen quite a tick-up in painkillers and toilet rolls (sales)… up high single digits. In the event of things getting sticky at the ports, we'd look for alternative routes into the country," Mr. Potts said.
The business chief also said that Morrisons advanced certain purchases of goods and packaging materials to boost its manufacturing division and stockpiled "cupboard fillers."
Social media users reacted to the news that such essentials as toilet paper rolls and painkillers may soon become scarce on the supermarket shelves.
— Izhar Khan (@izharnephrol) March 13, 2019
— simon read (@simonnread) March 13, 2019
— Ashley Armstrong (@AArmstrong_says) March 13, 2019
— Andy Sawers (@mr_numbers) March 13, 2019
— D S (@dimplodocus) March 13, 2019
Morrisons, like other UK supermarket chains, are subject to a likely economic impact by a no-deal Brexit, given the country's switch to WTO rules and regulations and change in tariff rates on a vast variety of produce in case of Britain crashing out of the European Union on 29 March.
READ MORE: London's No-Deal Tariff Plan 'Sledgehammer' for UK Economy — Business Industry
