As the number coronavirus affected people increases, the need for masks and sanitisers has increased too. The masks and sanitisers have started to disappear from the shops. Several chemists and stores have started selling these masks at 2-3 times more than their actual prices.
Amazon, Flipkart, Big Basket and Grofers have not had stock of sanitiser brands at various locations. While face masks were almost sold out, chemists said they would be getting fresh stock of sanitisers by Tuesday.
The makers of Lifebuoy hand wash and sanitisers, Hindustan Unilever, said the company has a sufficient stock of hand sanitisers and is geared up to meet the increasing demand. A spokesperson quoted, “We have redoubled our efforts to ensure consumers have access to products that keep them safe.”
Mask manufacturers are also earning from the virus terror by raising the prices, “Price of a surgical mask, which was earlier selling for Rs. 1, has skyrocketed to Rs. 15,” said the president of All India Chemists and Distributors Federation, Kailash Gupta.
Stocks of sanitisers are available in inventory of the large retail stores like Reliance Smart, Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, and Spencer’s Retail. They are moving the inventory to cities where demand has jumped to multiple times like Delhi-NCR, Kerala, Jaipur, and Hyderabad.
Spencer’s Retail MD Devendra Chawla said, “Heightened awareness coupled with social media is making consumers conscious of personal hygiene.” He added, “Sales of sanitisers in the last three days have tripled and the segment has been growing by more than 100% in the last one month.”
Industry executives said sanitiser production is being expanded by manufacturers like Reckitt Benckiser and Himalaya Drugs. CEO Philipe Haydon, Himalaya Drugs, confirms production hike due to the increasing sales following the outbreak.
