Café swaps coffee for loo rolls as shortage starts becomes ‘critical’
Customers are trading toilet rolls for their caffeine fix at a café in Far North Queensland.
Jaques Coffee Plantation in Mareeba is offering to exchange a takeaway coffee for three rolls of toilet paper, or a one-kilogram bag of beans for a pack of 36 rolls.
The surprise move has been prompted by a spate of panic stockpiling of loo paper across the country over coronavirus fears. Supermarkets shelves have been sitting empty for days as buyers stockpile ahead of a feared quarantine situation.
"It was a pretty crappy situation when the staff informed me they'd contacted three or four of our local suppliers and they're all sold out of toilet paper as well," general manager Jason Jaques told the ABC.
"This is wholesale suppliers too, not just supermarkets which I've sort of been laughing at.
"I know toilet paper's out there, people are hoarding it, and I thought we could see if we could get a little bit off them ... see who will bring some of the precious toilet paper.”
The bargain offer was posted on social media, but the café was surprised that non-one came forward to take the café up on it.
"It's been very interesting to see that nobody wants to part with it, which is even more interesting and funnier," Jaques said.
The next day saw patrons from nearby Camp Paterson traded nine rolls for three takeaway coffees, with more loo rolls coming in since.
"We had a young girl walk in with another nine-pack and she didn't actually want anything for it, just a nice thing to do," said Jacques.
Sheridan Randall, 12th March 2020
