Lidl Malta limits basic purchases like toilet paper and vegetable oil

Bargain supermarket Lidl has put a limit on the number of basic items customers can purchase, as importers warn the war in Ukraine is impacting supply chains. 

The restrictions were rolled out this month and cover products such as toilet paper, flour, baby food and vegetable oil.  Some products are limited to just one item per shopper. 

Lidl Malta’s notice to customers is visible at tills but the chain does not give a reason for limiting purchases.  

Customers at the supermarket's outlets across the island are being told that a shipment of products has been "caught up in Russia". 

Questions sent to the supermarket have not yet been replied.  

Notices at the LIdl in Sliema

Last week importers warned that key commodities to Malta from Ukraine and Russia are critical, with certain products highly exposed to shortages and price hikes as a result of the war.

The Chamber of Commerce has warned that the manufacturing sector is particularly vulnerable, as Russia’s invasion of its neighbour causes major disruption to world economies.

Foodstuff manufacturers are now highly exposed to shortages and price hikes due to their concentrated reliance on Ukraine for items like rice starch, which...