Sharp rise in sales of essential goods after the government says to stock

Some retailers have seen a dramatic increase in sales of essential goods after the government urged people to stock up in case of a crisis, according to figures obtained by Newsnight.

The Iceland supermarket chain said it was “clear” that consumers had heeded warnings after seeing a 40% increase in sales of canned goods over the weekend.

The increase in sales came after Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said people should stock up on 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 to last week, while Maplin said sales 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 almost 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 people are encouraged to take the advice seriously.”