Why Australians are stocking up at the supermarket – and no, it's not panic buying

Managing multiple autoimmune conditions leaves Lauren Antonenko with almost no flexibility in what she can eat.

She lives with ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis and fibromyalgia, relying on a tightly controlled diet to manage her health – this includes a large portion of canned goods.

Rising fuel costs are prompting shoppers to change how they buy these staple groceries.

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Referred to as "pantry loading," it involves grabbing non-perishables when they're on special to avoid paying more for them later.

Rather than panic-buying or emptying shelves as we saw during the pandemic, people are securing more of what they normally use. The goal isn't to hoard, but to make the most of price promotions.

For Antonenko, it's also about making sure the foods she depends on are always within reach.

"When fuel prices started climbing, the first thing I noticed was how quickly the mental calculus around shopping changed," she explained.

She sticks to the "non-negotiable" items her body can handle, like canned fish, vegetables, rice, and certain long-life broths.

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"There's no urgency in it, no drama ... I'm only stocking long-life and frozen foods I know my body tolerates and that I actually use."

Sales data from major suppliers is starting to reflect that trend.

Manufacturer SPC Global told nine.com.au that, as shoppers pared back spending, demand for basics, like canned baked beans, canned tomatoes and packaged fruit, rose by up to 20 per cent in late March.

At a household level, the focus on essentials is taking different forms. Some are cautious at the checkout, while others are stepping away from supermarkets entirely and turning to their back garden.

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Aussie business The Diggers Club has recorded a 94 per cent surge in seed sales recently, driven by everyday vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli and peas.

Anna-Lize Pretorius has started making the most of what she can grow at home, trimming her weekly grocery bill by $30 to $60.

"When you step into the garden instead of the supermarket … that's money you're simply not spending," she said.

"Food tastes better when you've grown it yourself. There's no question about that."

Meanwhile, for those without access to a home garden, buying in bulk has become a practical way to manage rising costs.

Dr Timothy Neal, a Scientia Senior Lecturer in Economics at UNSW, said the behaviour is consistent with how consumers respond to uncertainty.

"If one expects either price increases or supply constraints of a particular good in the near future, it's rational for the consumer to increase their stockpile," he said.

With more of the weekly budget absorbed by fuel and mortgage repayments, spending in other areas tends to fall, as fewer meals are eaten out and demand for basic food items rises.

Dr Neal said a simple check can help households avoid buying more than they need at the checkout.

"Families can distinguish between being prepared and over-purchasing by thinking before buying whether they will have a real need for the good over the coming few weeks or a month."

"If not, then it's probably better to put it back."

Major grocers, including Woolworths, IGA and Aldi, say stock levels remain steady.

"We're continuing to see consistent supply, and there's no need to over-purchase or stockpile," an IGA spokesperson said.

"By buying only what you need and being mindful of others, it helps ensure everyone in the community can access the essentials they rely on."

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