'Shopping syndicate' strips shelves of popular baby formula brands

9News has obtained pictures of an organised syndicate of shoppers stripping Adelaide shop shelves of popular brands of baby formula.

It's become a common practice, with the stock sent overseas and parents say it's leaving them to cope with shortages.

In the video, people can be seen buying the Woolworths store-limit of two tins per customer. But they do it over and over again, raising the ire of one passer-by.

Within minutes the shelves are stripped of three popular brands leaving mums furious.

“I think it's absolutely heart breaking, you've got enough to worry about as a new mum, let alone trying to find food and this is sometime the only food you can give them,” online advocate Belinda Jennings said.

The A2 Platinum, Aptamil Profutura and Bellamy's brands were also scooped up at Coles, Foodland and Chemist Warehouse stores.

The well-rehearsed shoppers completely ignoring "two per customer" signs, displayed in multiple languages.

Belinda Jennings, the founder of Mum Central, a national mum's network based in Adelaide, said her 800,000 followers are tired of the mass formula buy-ups.

“It's extremely frustrating you know, we've had mums saying they're driving around late at night trying to find formula for their babies and all the shelves are empty,” Ms Jennings said.

Profit is the clear motive for the formula scheme.

Here in Australia a single tin sells for about $30, but 9News understands parents will pay up to four times that amount overseas.

“Dollars talk and there’s a massive overseas market for the formula we need, and unfortunately, parents are the ones caught in the middle quite innocently,” Ms Jennings said.

Woolworths said its staff work hard to ensure stock is available for customers.

While Coles told 9News they're working with suppliers on solutions to improve availability.