Blackout triggers panic buying, leaving empty shelves at Sitges supermarkets 

Monday's massive power outage led to a surge in customers at supermarkets in the southern coastal town of Sitges. The larger supermarkets managed to stay open using their own generators, while small businesses were forced to shut down.  

These big stores responded to the public's growing anxiety about the uncertainty of power returning and the water supply in homes as it relies on electric pumps. 

By Tuesday, the emergency shopping that took place the previous day had resulted in empty shelves in some sections. Bottled water, store brand legumes, and batteries were the most sought-after items. Making some supermarkets still unable to restock them.

At the Esclat hypermarket in Sitges, customers also cleared out charcoal bags and gas canisters for portable stoves. 

Throughout the day, numerous people came to the store, with the highest number of shoppers arriving in the evening. Staff said they saw many unfamiliar faces, customers who normally shop elsewhere but came because most other stores in the town center were closed.  

People were mainly buying large amounts of bottled water and batteries, and many also asked if they could buy a radio, but were disappointed to find out the store doesn't sell them.

Despite the high demand, the store had to shut early. Just before 7 pm, two hours before its usual closing time, the generator overheated. For safety reasons, the staff evacuated the store. Firefighters later confirmed there was no danger, but the shop stayed closed for the rest of the night. 

On Tuesday, workers resumed their day as normal, waiting to restock the shelves that had been emptied. Monday’s communication issues and the store’s every-other-day ordering schedule led to the sight of some empty shelves, but workers assured customers that they would be refilled by Wednesday. 

Distribution industry

Catalonia's distribution industry said that the outage did not cause any shortage issues in Catalan supermarkets and that establishments have recovered their usual activities during Tuesday morning.

However, the sector highlights that those places where electricity returned later, could face "some logistic delays," and some "produce can be out of stock," Roger Gaspa, general secretary of the Catalan food distribution companies council, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

He forecasts that losses "will not be catastrophic" as the outage was very "short."