There has been a three-fold increase in demand for flour at some Irish supermarkets. Tesco Ireland says it has sold 600,000 bags of flour in the last week alone.
Sales peaked in the week that the Covid-19 restrictions were imposed; a 300% increase in flour sales was recorded by Tesco stores in Ireland.
Odlums flour mill in Portarlington is working around the clock to meet the surge in demand for flour at retail outlets. The Association of British and Irish Millers said the increase is unprecedented.
Its members, including Odlums, are working around the clock to fill orders. There is plenty of flour, the association said, but mills are struggling to package flour quick enough to cope with demand.