Mount Isa small businesses are running out of stock trying to keep up with the overwhelming demand as excessive buying continues due to the big wet.
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With limited stock on the shelves at the large supermarket chains, locals are turning to small businesses and Brumby’s Mount Isa say they more than tripling their daily baking routine.
“In a basic week we would bake 100 loaves a day, but now with people going crazy due to the weather we have increased to 300-350 loaves a day,” Brumby’s owner Michelle Russell said.
“I’ve had some customers come in and buy up to 10 loaves and pre-order more. So we have cancelled pre-orders unless they are wholesalers, and have placed a two loaf restriction.
“This is to allow more people access to our products and to try and hold out our stock for as long as we can.
“If locals keep buying at this rate we are going to run out of flour and then there will be no bread. If people just stop stockpiling and go back to a normal buying routine, then we can go back to normal production.”
Ms Russell said Brumby’s had about 10 days of stock remaining.
“We had extra stock stored and we have nearly gone through that also. Locals need to understand they don’t need to panic, this is a normal wet season in Mount Isa,” she said.
“This morning as soon as we opened we had 60 people waiting to be served with a line out the door and all our break loaves were sold out by 9am.
“If you don’t need it today, don’t buy it today. There could be other people who need it more.”
Camooweal Butchery has also experienced an influx of customers with sales doubling in the last week.
The Camooweal St business has started running out of stock with 400kg of mince and 600kg of sausages sold in the last three days.
“Sales have been unreal. It has been like Christmas Eve for the last week,” owner Barry Sloan said.
“It has been a bit busier, as soon as Woolies and Coles run out we tend to get their customers, which does make an impact on us.
“We have started running out of stock and we only have certain items left. Mince and sausages should be sold out by the end of today.”
Mr Sloan said he doesn’t understand why people buy excessively when it rains.
“Customers are bulk buying and I don’t think there is any reason for it, just carry on like normal,” he said.
A truck was suppose to deliver more meat to Camooweal Butchery on Thursday January 31 but is currently stranded in McKinlay due to floodwaters cutting the Landsborough Highway.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
