Where can I buy flour? map
During the coronavirus lockdown baking has become the number one pastime for children who are off school and furloughed adults. So much has demand for retail flour increased that flour mills are running their packing lines 24 hours a day seven days a week, and have doubled production – up from 2 million bags a week to 4 million bags every week. Yet they are still struggling to meet demand.
Production of pre-packed flour is at full capacity – it simply isn’t possible to get any more small bags of flour out. So in a bid to allow easy and affordable access to flour for anyone who wants it, the trade association for UK Flour Millers – nabim – has put together a Where can I buy flour? interactive map showing retail outlets that are selling larger bags of flour, usually restricted for commercial customers, to the general public. Just type your postcode in to get a list of your local physical shops selling flour; or get a list of online stores that are delivering UK-wide.
Availability of flour in shops
Since the stay-at-home advice was issued by the government in a bid to help restrict the COVID-19 virus, Britons have refound and rekindled their love of homebaking. Such is the demand that online mill shops have paused sales; and the homebaking sections in shops are frequently empty.
So, naturally the first thought is: are we going to run out of flour? The simple answer is no …
The the issue isn’t a lack of flour – don’t forget with large customers like Greggs, Pret, McDonalds etc closing – UK flour millers have more flour than ever! But, it takes a lot longer to pack small bags of flour than larger bags.
In recent weeks, UK flour millers have been producing twice as much retail flour – up from the usual 2 million 1.5kg bags-a-week to 4 million. The industry is currently packing the smaller bags at full capacity. It is predicted that demand will level out soon, enabling everyone who wants to bake at home to do so.
Below is a statement from Alex Waugh, the director general of the trade association for UK Flour Millers; and he explains in full why we are seeing a shortage of flour in shops despite the UK having plenty of flour available.
RETAIL FLOUR SHORTAGES
The following is a statement from ALEX WAUGH, director general of the National Association of British & Irish Millers (nabim) – the trade association for UK flour millers – regarding the current shortages of flour in supermarkets and shops.
The UK is self-sufficient in flour, producing about 90,000 tonnes every week. Yet many people are experiencing shortages in supermarkets and shops.
To understand why this should be the case, it may be useful to offer an overview of how the industry operates on a typical, day-to-day basis.
Most UK flour is produced in bulk and delivered either in tankers or in 16kg or 25kg bags to bakeries and other food manufacturers.
Only a small proportion – around 4% of the total flour milled is sold through shops and supermarkets.
Ordinarily consumers purchase about 3,000 tonnes of flour a week in the shops – equivalent to two million 1.5kg bags. On average, each of the 27.5 million households in the UK buys a bag of flour every 14 weeks.
However since the COVID-19 outbreak, and in response to the subsequent lock-down, both regular bulk buyers and consumers have been purchasing much more than normal. Inevitably, existing stocks have been quickly used up and many households have been unable to buy.
In response, UK millers have been working round the clock – genuinely milling flour 24-hours-day-seven-days-a-week to double the production of retail flour in an effort to meet demand. The equivalent of 3.5million to 4 million bags have been produced weekly by running packing lines at maximum capacity. However, production is limited by the capacity to pack small bags, so even this is only sufficient for 15% of households to buy a bag of flour per week. Supplies of commercial flour are typically delivered either in larger bags or tankers and are therefore not subject to the same limitations.
One option is for retailers and wholesalers to stock larger bags of flour, which might be suited to more regular home-bakers. This would require a change in shopping patterns, however.
Otherwise, it will be a question of time before the surge in demand reduces enough for this enhanced level of production to meet requirements and allow stock levels to be rebuilt.
Bake to stay sane during COVID-19 self-isolation
There’s no denying that COVID-19 has the potential to become a very real threat – both on a personal and national scale.
Schools throughout the UK are set to shut for an indefinite period; many people are working from home and/or self-isolating; others have the virus or are taking care of others who do.
As many a Christmas has shown up – being cooped up in close proximity with ones family for any extended period of time can have a negative effect on levels of happiness and sanity!
Learning to bake, or improving your baking skills is our solution. It provides a much required focus; gives you the opportunity to set and achieve goals and learn new skills; you get to spend quality time with your family and housemates- or if you’d prefer – you get to spend quality time in the kithen away from your family and housemates! And the icing on the cake – you end up with a house that smells amazing and something scrummy to eat!
If you’re new to baking – take a look at our Easy Peasy Bakes page which will help you begin your journey. Or if you know your way round a bundt tin why not have a look at our Cakes and Bakes page and try something new today.