Sales of wind-up radios, torches and tinned food jump after government's Be Ready campaign
Retailers report sharp rises in sales of radios, torches, power banks and tinned goods after the government launched its Be Ready preparedness campaign on 22 October. Coverage differs on whether this is "panic buying" or people sensibly following advice.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Retailers have reported sharp rises in sales of emergency items since the government launched its Be Ready campaign, a three-year initiative urging households to prepare for potential emergencies. MetroLC “a three-year initiative urging households to prepare for potential emergencies.” Read at Metro ↗ BBC NewsN “Some major retailers have seen a dramatic increase in sales of essential goods after the government called on the nation to stock up in case of a crisis” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1On 22 October, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said people should have three litres of water per person per day, tinned goods, baby food, battery-powered torches and mobile phone charging packs. BBC NewsN “On 22 October, Streeting said that people should ensure they have three litres of water per person per day; tinned goods in the cupboard; baby food; battery powered torches and mobile phone charging packs.” Read at BBC News ↗ Left · 1The Be Ready website also lists a wind-up radio, first-aid kit, power bank, cash and a list of emergency contacts, and asks people to keep a three-day supply of essentials such as bottled water, tinned food and medications. MetroLC “Other items to stash include a wind-up radio, a first-aid kit, a power bank, cash and a list of emergency contacts, the Be Ready website says.”“officials are asking people to keep a three-day supply of essentials at home, such as bottled water, tinned food and medications.” Read at Metro ↗
Centre · 1Figures obtained by BBC Newsnight show Maplin's torch sales up 284%, power bank sales up 106% and radio sales up 92% since the announcement, compared with the same period last month; Robert Dyas reported a 160% rise in radio sales compared with last week. BBC NewsN “Maplin said radio sales are up by 92%, sales of torches have gone up by 284%, and power banks have seen a rise of 106%.”“Robert Dyas reported a 160% increase in sales of radios compared with last week;” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Iceland said tinned product sales rose 40% over the weekend, with strong bottled water sales, and that its supplies remain healthy. BBC NewsN “we have seen a 40% increase in sales of tinned products over the weekend and strong sales of bottled water too. Our supplies of these products remain healthy.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Independent prepper retailers reported larger jumps: Sgt Prepper's said sales rose tenfold, mostly for wind-up radios, and Preppers Shop UK reported a 650% increase. BBC NewsN “Josh Pringle, from Sgt Prepper's online store, said his sales had increased tenfold”“Lincoln Miles, founder of Preppers Shop UK, told Newsnight of a 650% increase in sales after the government announcement.” Read at BBC News ↗
Left · 1Metro, citing The Telegraph, reported that wind-up radio sales had risen fivefold with seven major models sold out, and described the behaviour as 'panic buying'. MetroLC “Sales of wind-up radios have skyrocketed fivefold in recent days, with seven major models sold out, The Telegraph reported yesterday.” Read at Metro ↗ Left · 1Metro also reported video of queues of customers trying to leave the Asda car park at Colchester's Turner Rise retail park; some customers told a local Facebook group they were stuck for two hours, and one shopper described the supermarket as 'rammed with people panic buying'. MetroLC “Video footage also showed queues of customers trying to leave the Asda car park at Colchester”“Some customers were stuck inside the car park for two hours” Read at Metro ↗ Centre · 1Streeting told Newsnight it was 'encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready', saying a few essentials help households prepare for disruption such as flooding, power cuts or burst pipes. Maplin's managing director Ollie Marshall likewise called it 'encouraging to see people taking the advice seriously'. BBC NewsN “It's encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready.”“it's encouraging to see people taking the advice seriously.” Read at BBC News ↗
Left · 1The British Red Cross stressed the campaign is not the government saying disaster will strike within 72 hours, but is about coping with short-term disruption to services such as electricity, water, communications, transport or access to shops. MetroLC “being ready to cope with short-term disruption to everyday services such as electricity, water, communications, transport or access to shops” Read at Metro ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Metro frames the story as consumer 'panic buying', leading with sold-out radios and a gridlocked Colchester Asda car park, quoting shoppers who call stockpilers 'so stupid'.
- Emphasis
- Chaos at a supermarket, sold-out models, shopper reactions, a Red Cross reassurance and prepper tips.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the Defence Secretary's comment or retailers' view that the rise is a sensible response; the sales figures are relayed from The Telegraph and Maplin.
- Charged language
- “panic buying”“skyrocketed”“rammed with people panic buying”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- BBC News frames it as data-led reporting from Newsnight: sales rises across retailers showing people have followed the government's call.
- Emphasis
- Retailer figures, Defence Secretary Streeting's response and independent prepper shops' sales.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention queues or car park gridlock, nor describe the buying as panic; does not report radios selling out.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The government launched the Be Ready campaign in the week of 22 October, urging households to keep emergency supplies.
- Maplin reported torch sales up 284% and power bank sales up 106%.
- Wind-up radios are among the items that have seen a surge in demand.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the surge is 'panic buying'
- Left
- Metro describes shoppers 'panic buying' and quotes people calling it foolish.
- Centre
- BBC reports consumers 'listened to the government's message'; the Defence Secretary and Maplin call it encouraging.
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Size of the radio sales rise
- Left
- Metro, citing The Telegraph, says fivefold, with seven major models sold out.
- Centre
- BBC cites Maplin up 92%, Robert Dyas up 160% and Sgt Prepper's mostly radio orders; it does not report sell-outs.
Left1 article
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MetroLC ·
Wind-up radios sell out as shoppers panic at government’s Be Ready campaign
Mixed Light, anecdotal report on 'panic buying' with shopper quotes, balanced by Red Cross reassurance and a prepper explainer.
Centre1 article
-
Sharp rise in sales of some essential goods after government call to stock up
Neutral Figures-driven account of rising sales, with retailers and the Defence Secretary describing the rise as people heeding advice.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 15:39 First MetroLC Wind-up radios sell out as shoppers panic at government’s Be Ready campaign
- 27 Oct 03:48 +36h 9m BBC NewsN Sharp rise in sales of some essential goods after government call to stock up
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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