BAROSSA butcher Chris McKinnon says conditions have been "chaotic" in recent weeks, with Linke's Central Meat Store at Nuriootpa packed out with people "panic buying".
He said this rush was most noticeable with mince, but also sausages, hamburgers and chicken.
"We usually only sell about 50 kilograms (of mince a week) but last week that was up to 250kg and we ran out," he said. "We couldn't keep up. (Customers are) looking for things that are quick and easy to make."
Mr McKinnon said he had not seen the butcher this busy in many years.
"It's been packed out in the shop," he said.
He said there were even people travelling from Adelaide to buy 5-6kg of meat.
Mr McKinnon said the business had good relationships with their wholesalers so expected supply to remain strong for the short-term.
As well as meat, he said there has also been strong demand for their smoked products, such as mettwurst and biersticks.
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Mr McKinnon said the shop started getting busier about three weeks ago, but the past two weeks were "chaotic".
But he was confident meat supply, and customers' ability to access it, would remain.
"If we can't export, we're self-sufficient in Australia," he said. "But people are panicking."
Since the stricter rules came into force on Sunday, closing pubs and clubs, he has noticed the main streets have been quieter, but there is still a steady crowd of shoppers into the store.
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