Coronavirus: Coles announces new change to shopping restrictions
Coles has lifted its restriction on purchasing meat products and fresh milk.
The supermarket announced on Friday it has added to its supply chain by purchasing double the amount it normally buys over the past four weeks.
It had placed restrictions on meat due to panic buying amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
Live blog: Coronavirus news and updates
“The added supply has allowed Coles to remove purchase limits on all meat products in our supermarkets, making it easier for customers to buy the meat they need to feed their family,” Coles told Yahoo News Australia in a statement.
Previously, mince was restricted to one pack per person.
Prices on selected beef mince have also dropped by 20 per cent until Tuesday.
Toilet paper remains under restriction with one product per customer but fresh milk has been removed.
UHT milk remains restricted though.
Items still under restriction at Coles (two per person)
Pasta
Flour
Dry rice
Paper towels
Paper tissues
Hand sanitisers
Eggs
Frozen vegetables
Frozen desserts
Sugar
UHT long-life milk
Canned tomatoes
Liquid soap
Nappies
Anti-bacterial wipes
Last month, Coles chief operations officer Matthew Swindells compared the scale of hoarding to festive seasons – but without the usual six months of lead-up planning.
'There is hope': 86-year-old beats COVID-19 in heartwarming tale
Six charts and maps that explain how coronavirus is spreading
The only 16 reasons you're allowed to leave your home in one Aussie state
"It's not a problem of supply, it's a problem of demand," Mr Swindells told the Seven Network.
"We have done three Christmases in three consecutive weeks from a standing start.
"When you see that immediate lift in demand across a network as large as Coles, it punches a huge stock hole in our supply lines and it takes time to recover."
Toilet paper, in particular, has led to chaos in Australian supermarkets with people involved in arguments and physical altercations just trying to buy some.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.