British households stockpile food and water following government campaign

British households increased their purchases of essential supplies following the launch of the "Be Ready" emergency preparedness campaign on 22 October.

The UK government launched the public awareness campaign to encourage citizens to prepare for potential disruptions to essential services caused by cyberattacks or severe weather. The campaign recommended that people keep three days of food and water, along with items like wet wipes, torches, and cash, in their homes.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that everyone should have these supplies to manage during such moments. Retail research firm Worldpanel by Numerator found that sales of bottled water rose by 67% and sales of tinned and jarred goods increased by 37% in the 10 days after the launch. Hand sanitiser sales also grew by 83% during this period.

While the volume of shoppers buying tinned meat increased, the amount each person bought remained steady at 500g, suggesting a gradual stocking of supplies rather than a sudden panic. The food firm Princes reported a similar rise in demand for tinned tuna, meat, and vegetables. Fraser McKevitt of Worldpanel by Numerator noted that the growth came from more people adding recommended items to their weekly shopping lists.

He stated that less than a third of households bought bottled water in October, which aligned with the government's goal of steady preparation.