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Purchase of confinement: how it evolves

Those were crazy days in the supermarkets with those people who devastated without much sense with some products that will already go down in the history of this coronavirus crisis. One of them was undoubtedly the toilet paper. However, other perishable food they filled carts and shopping bags, leaving the shelves practically empty. Now, when we reach the 12th day of the quarantine, the purchase of confinement has changed. Consumer preferences have already shifted to other products such as beer or preserves. We analyze here how the basket of the Spanish customer who continues to be locked up at home has evolved.

Incomprehensible love for toilet paper

Before focusing on what products the Spanish are acquiring for their respective pantries and refrigerators, let's go back to the beginning. When Pedro Sánchez decreed the state of alarm the past Saturday March 14, many people went out to the supermarkets to make huge purchases while panic seized them. And soon the prominence moved to toilet paper, when the images on social networks began to reflect one of the strangest sensations of the moment. Completely empty shelves left centers like Mercadona stunned at the incomprehensible and sudden love for said bath item. "Why are people taking so many scrolls away now?" Was the question asked by so many astonished citizens.

It was difficult to find a reasonable answer to the craving for toilet paper. Some buyers explained that the large quantity being acquired had a clear objective linked to the coronavirus. Or well, rather to the prevention with the disease. According to this hypothesis, instead of using towels To dry hands after washing, the idea was to use the roll to avoid having to send so many towels to the washing machine. This theory was justified in the noticeable increase of times that a person should wash with soap and water daily. However, from the most creative Spanish minds also came the idea of ​​using several sheets of said paper to make a homemade mask. Sewing thread to hold on both ears and you're done. What imagination!

Mass purchase also of perishable food

Rare reasons aside from that massive purchase, another surprising trend was being observed in the fruits and vegetables Or in the chilled food. The sensible customer who went to his regular weekly shopping found himself without supplies in his supermarket while other consumers rampaged. In the end, the ball was getting bigger, because if one saw that another caught five or six units of a single product, he copied. This led to the non-existence of yogurts, custards, bananas, tomatoes, and so on. This was the purchase of confinement, which also included ready meals, rice, pasta, oil and even milk powder.

New preferences in the purchase of confinement

After a week has passed, it seems that the situation has calmed down a bit and the Spaniards have changed your preferences towards other products. Above all, those who have longer expiration date. In this decision, most likely, the government's announcement to extend the period of quarantine until almost mid-April. This has motivated consumers to go out in search of other more durable foods, although there is also a growing interest in maintaining cleaner home. In this context, an analysis of the Gelt app for the purchase of this week's confinement confirms what has been said.

La beer stands as a big winner to stay at home these days and the impossibility of going to the bar is noticeable: up to a 78% the sale of this drink has increased. Then, are the cleaning those who have seen their demand grow in a 34%. The Spanish have disinfected their houses with greater determination and that is reflected in the figure. Although, yes, the preserves, who have sold a 23% more than the previous week. Cans and cans They are part of those ideal foodstuffs to have a full pantry in the face of possible future food unforeseen events. However, the occurrence of a shortage does not enter into the plans of either the Spanish government or those of the coronavirus (let's hope).

craft beer in Mercadona
Craft beer stand / Photo: Loopulo.com

What does seem to continue to attract many homebound is the toilet paper, because it has only seen its sales drop in a 10%, in the line of the bleach (-8%). For now, this is the purchase of the confinement until further analysis in the coming weeks. Remember # StayEnCasa!

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