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Tue, 10 Nov 2026

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 Sales of tinned food and bottled water jump after 'Be Ready' campaign launch

Sales of essential goods such as hand sanitiser soar after the government called on households to be prepared for emergencies.

* Sales of essential goods increased by: + 83% for hand sanitiser + 67% for bottled water + 37% for canned and jarred goods
* The increase in sales is attributed to the government's "Be Ready" emergency preparedness campaign, which encouraged people to stock up on essentials.
* Households were not panic buying, but instead gradually stocking up on recommended items such as bottled water, tinned meat, and hand sanitiser.
* Sales of tinned and jarred goods rose from £58.2m in 2025 to £79.5m in 2026, a 37% increase.
* Bottled water sales jumped from £13.6m to £22.8m, a 67% increase.
* Hand sanitiser sales climbed from £497,000 to £908,000, an 83% increase.
* Food firm Princes reported a rise in demand for tinned tuna, meat and vegetables following the government's campaign.
* The "Be Ready" campaign encourages households to have three days' worth of food and water at home, as well as other essential items such as cash and a torch.