Tesco restricts online shoppers to 80 items each to combat high delivery demand during coronavirus lockdown

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Tesco is going to restrict online orders to 80 items
REUTERS
Luke O'Reilly27 March 2020

Tesco will restrict online shoppers to a maximum of 80 items per order to combat increased demand on delivery services during the coronavirus lockdown.

The supermarket giant said that, before the pandemic, online orders would include an average of 60 items - a figure which has jumped to 100 in recent weeks.

On Friday, Tesco said that by reducing the number of items per basket to 80, delivery drivers will be able to get more orders into each van.

“We’re looking at every opportunity to increase the number of slots available," a spokesman said.

"By introducing a limit of 80 items per online order we’ll be able to get more orders onto each van, helping us to ensure all customers can get the essentials they need.”

Shelves are empty across the UK
Jeremy Selwyn

Meanwhile, one supermarket boss urged healthy people to go against Boris Johnson’s advice and visit shops in person to free up delivery slots for the elderly and those most vulnerable to the pandemic.

Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, said the company has “done their best” to restrict online orders to those most in need, but any new slots released are being “quickly snapped up”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “In a seminal address to the nation, the Prime Minister urged everyone to use food delivery services wherever possible; the reality is that current demand vastly exceeds supply.

“I’d actually urge the opposite of the PM, in that, if you are healthy, not in a vulnerable category and adhere to social distancing guidelines, please do shop in store, but make sure you shop responsibly.”

He added: “That will enhance priority online for those who need it most.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it is “working with the retailers to get them the information they need – in addition to their own data – to help ensure essential items are delivered as soon as possible to the people with medical conditions that make them most vulnerable”.

A spokesman added: “We have also introduced a range of measures to keep food supply flowing and support home deliveries, such as issuing guidance to local authorities to allow extended delivery hours to supermarkets so that shelves can be filled up more quickly, and implementing extensions to drivers’ hours.”

Marks & Spencer said it has expanded the product range and increased the size of deliveries to its 46 hospital stores across the UK to ensure NHS teams have access to essential products.

Elsewhere, Spar has implemented a range of new social distancing measures to protect staff and customers, including making disposable gloves and paper towels available in stores and forecourts.

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