The new government measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus dictate you should not be leaving your house unless to buy essential items, food, medicine or to exercise.
Instead of going out to supermarkets to buy food frequently, many people have turned to online shopping.
But since this surge, keeping your fridge, freezer and kitchen cupboards stocked however is proving difficult as delivery slots are much less frequent than usual.
Many supermarkets are also rationing some items like toilet roll and pasta in an attempt to prioritise the vulnerable and NHS workers.
Although most supermarkets are struggling to keep up with demand, it’s advisable to continually check back to find delivery slots and to sign up for accounts, if you still can. Once you have a delivery slot booked, most supermarkets let you amend your order.
While other shops, including Sainsbury’s and Iceland, are prioritising the elderly and the vulnerable, and are emailing these customers to confirm they’ve been prioritised.
Marks & Spencer has partnered with Deliveroo to deliver around 60 M&S items such as milk and bread.
To keep you up to date with the latest changes from the supermarkets, we’ve compiled all the information you need to know to organise your next food shop.
Minimum spend: £40
Delivery waiting time: The next delivery slot is from 14 April but it has currently sold out of online delivery slots and Asda is asking customers to shop in-store when possible to allow vulnerable people to use the online delivery slots.
Only available to existing customers?: No, but you will need to register for an account to order groceries online.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: You will only be able to buy three of any product across all food items, toiletries and cleaning products.
Minimum spend: £25
Delivery waiting time: Delivery slots with the Co-Op are fully booked up, but the supermarket advises to continuously check back for availability.
Only available to existing customers?: No, but you will need to sign up in order to arrange delivery of your shopping once slots are available.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: When delivery slots do become available, you will only be able to order up to 20 items.
Minimum spend: £25
Delivery waiting time: Iceland is limiting online orders to customers over the state pension age (65+), self-isolating and vulnerable people like the disabled.
Deliveries may be delayed and the supermarket has said it’s likely that some online orders will be missing items due to the high demand.
Only available to existing customers?: No, but you can only order online if you fall into the vulnerable category
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: Iceland currently does not have purchasing restrictions on items but is urging its customers not to stock-pile and only buy what you need.
Minimum spend: £0
Delivery waiting time: Home deliveries are currently unavailable according to the supermarket.
However, it has partnered with Deliveroo to deliver 60 Marks & Spencer products, such as milk, bread and juice to customers across the UK through the app.
Only available to existing customers?: No, it is still accepting new registrations. Once delivery slots are available, you will need to register an account to order groceries online.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: Marks & Spencer has placed a limit of two items per customer across all its groceries.
Minimum spend: £40
Delivery waiting time: Morrison has advised booking delivery slot as far in advance as possible, which can be up to weeks away, but there are no further slots shown on its website.
The shop is also offering boxes of essentials, including bread, milk and toilet roll, for £35. It’s filled with 20 items and has been designed to feed two adults for a week.
Is it only available to existing customers?: No, but you will need to register an account with them in order to shop online.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: Customers may only buy three items of any product.
Minimum spend: £40
Delivery waiting time: Sainsbury’s has prioritised delivery slots for elderly, disable and vulnerable customers, and there is currently no slot available for the next few weeks, but it says to keep checking.
It has advised that, if you feel you fit into the vulnerable category, call 0800 328 1700 to be put onto the list of prioritised customers. These customers will also be contacted by email to confirmed they’ve been prioritised.
Only available to existing customers?: Yes, Sainsbury’s has paused all-new online registrations.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: The supermarket has introduced new restrictions, only a maximum of three of any grocery product is allowed two of the most popular items including soap, toilet paper and YHT milk.
Minimum spend: £40
Delivery waiting time: You can book slots up to three weeks in advance but Ocado has advised booking more than one to avoid disappointment. Presently, the next available slots are 11 days away and it advises to check back regularly.
If you already have a delivery booked, you can amend and add to it.
Only available to existing customers?: Ocado is currently not offering delivery slots to new customers.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: Ocado is not currently rationing any items.
Minimum spend: £25
Delivery waiting time: According to Tesco, it is at full capacity for the next few weeks for delivery slots and is asking customers who can to come into the store to free up slots for more vulnerable shoppers.
The next delivery slot available is 14 April.
It is also looking to increase the number of slots available over the coming weeks and will be set aside slots specifically for vulnerable customers.
Only available to existing customers?: For now, Tesco has paused new sign-ups for delivery in order to accommodate existing customers.
Delivery locations: There is currently no confirmation that different locations across the UK will be affected more than others.
Rationing: In order to prioritise essential items, Tesco has imposed a restriction of three items per customers, and two items per customers for painkillers and toilet roll and has removed multi-buy promotions.
Minimum spend: £60
Delivery waiting time: Currently delivery slot bookings are no longer available as Waitrose tries to meet the surge in demand. However, customers who already have slots booked can amend and add to them.
Only available to existing customers?: You will need to register an account to order groceries online.
Delivery locations: While there are no delivery slots to book, Waitrose hasn’t specified if any locations will be more affected than others.
Rationing: The supermarket has put a temporary cap on items including pasta, tissues, milk, canned goods, and some antibacterial soaps and wipes. If you do go into store, you will be limited to buying three of any grocery item and a maximum of two packets of toilet roll.
For information on Amazon’s deliveries click here, and for the online food boxes still delivering, visit here.
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