Digital Photograph Showing Empty Supermarket Shelves

Photographer Ben Marsden

Date2020

Object Namedigital photograph

Mediumdigital file (jpg)

ClassificationsBorn Digital

DimensionsDigital Resolution (Width x Height): 240 × 320 pixels

AcquisitionPresented in 2021 by Ben Marsden.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS095635.2

Keywords

About MeSome images of the Covid-19 pandemic will last generations - deserted streets, sports played in empty stadia and world leaders wearing PPE. Vivid memories a little closer to home were queues to enter essential shops, talking to friends, family and colleagues on screen and bare aisles in the supermarkets.

During the first Covid-19 lockdown consumers rushed to buy non-perishable staples such as toilet paper, canned goods, pasta and flour - especially flour. The flour ran out before we were told to stop going to the pub, schools closed, and face masks became mandatory. The severity of the pandemic first hit home for some people when the flour ran out.

Even after the initial pantry-stocking/hoarding period, we continued to eat mostly at home for months, which led to shifts in our shopping habits and consumption.