Australian retailers struggling to keep up with demand for winter essentials
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It's that time of year again when we're all trying to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. But with the flu season hitting Australia hard, many of us are struggling to keep up.
Retailers are reporting a national shortage of tissues, as the demand for cold and flu essentials skyrockets.
This year's flu season is shaping up to be a doozy, with influenza cases spiking at drastic levels since we entered our first winter season after COVID-related lockdowns were halted.
The Australian Influenza Surveillance Report has revealed that young Australians are the most at risk, with the flu season beginning early this year and illness on the rise a month before the seasonal reporting period even began.
So far this year, there have been 87,989 influenza cases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in Australia, with more than 54 per cent of those cases being diagnosed within the last two weeks.
It was said that the number of cases for the past two months is at an all-time high and has already exceeded the five-year average.
The high cases have also prompted experts to warn us of "a flu season like no other", sending Aussies into a panic.
Supermarkets are running out of tissue supplies as influenza cases in the country hit an all-time high record. Credit: Twitter.
Frustrated shoppers have taken to social media to report the shortage of tissues from their local stores, with many comparing it to the toilet paper crisis during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supermarkets have issued statements regarding the shortage, reassuring customers that there will be enough supplies coming soon.
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that the supermarket giant is currently "working closely with suppliers" in an effort to provide a solution to the issue.
The spokesperson explained: “Given the recent cold snap and early start to the flu season, there’s quite a lot of demand for a range of medicinal and paper goods products including cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges and tissues.”
“While customers might notice that the availability of some of their preferred brands might be limited, we continue to offer a wide range of alternatives across these ranges.”
A Coles spokesperson also said that they are experiencing a similar dilemma, explaining that the shortage is an "industry-wide issue" affecting the whole country.
“Customers may notice that some stores might not have their usual brands of facial tissues in stock at the moment,” the spokesperson said.
“We want to assure customers that there will be enough stock to get them through this flu season.
“We are encouraging shoppers to be flexible if the products they would usually purchase are not available.”
It is understood that ALDI is also experiencing the issue.
Stay safe and healthy out there, folks!
Retailers are reporting a national shortage of tissues, as the demand for cold and flu essentials skyrockets.
This year's flu season is shaping up to be a doozy, with influenza cases spiking at drastic levels since we entered our first winter season after COVID-related lockdowns were halted.
The Australian Influenza Surveillance Report has revealed that young Australians are the most at risk, with the flu season beginning early this year and illness on the rise a month before the seasonal reporting period even began.
So far this year, there have been 87,989 influenza cases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in Australia, with more than 54 per cent of those cases being diagnosed within the last two weeks.
It was said that the number of cases for the past two months is at an all-time high and has already exceeded the five-year average.
The high cases have also prompted experts to warn us of "a flu season like no other", sending Aussies into a panic.
Supermarkets are running out of tissue supplies as influenza cases in the country hit an all-time high record. Credit: Twitter.
Frustrated shoppers have taken to social media to report the shortage of tissues from their local stores, with many comparing it to the toilet paper crisis during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supermarkets have issued statements regarding the shortage, reassuring customers that there will be enough supplies coming soon.
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that the supermarket giant is currently "working closely with suppliers" in an effort to provide a solution to the issue.
The spokesperson explained: “Given the recent cold snap and early start to the flu season, there’s quite a lot of demand for a range of medicinal and paper goods products including cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges and tissues.”
“While customers might notice that the availability of some of their preferred brands might be limited, we continue to offer a wide range of alternatives across these ranges.”
A Coles spokesperson also said that they are experiencing a similar dilemma, explaining that the shortage is an "industry-wide issue" affecting the whole country.
“Customers may notice that some stores might not have their usual brands of facial tissues in stock at the moment,” the spokesperson said.
“We want to assure customers that there will be enough stock to get them through this flu season.
“We are encouraging shoppers to be flexible if the products they would usually purchase are not available.”
It is understood that ALDI is also experiencing the issue.
Stay safe and healthy out there, folks!
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