An entrepreneur has sparked fury on the internet after he started offering a free roll of toilet paper to customers who spent 30 euros or more on pizza.

Free toilet paper promotion backfires

Coronavirus is continuing to cause economic worries for a lot of people. After Germany imposed lockdown measures to try and stop the spread of the virus, the country has slowly ground to a halt. All non-essential businesses have been closed and people are losing their jobs.

This didn't stop Steven Sürder, a taxi entrepreneur and restaurateur, from trying to make ends meet. After converting a small hut in Willich into a pizza stand, Sürder tried to drum up some business with a special promotion: offering a free roll of toilet paper with every order worth 30 euros or more.

His bright idea unleashed something of a social media storm. “Some people believed we had bought the toilet paper at supermarkets. Many who were unable to buy it took their frustration out on us,” said Sürder. He explained that the toilet paper was brought from a supplier: “It is not hoarded. I try to explain that to people. After all, a woman later apologised to me.”

White gold

Since lockdown measures began, toilet paper has been in record high demand. Supermarkets shelves stand empty as shoppers squabble over the last few remaining rolls of the white gold.

Many businesses have sought to take advantage of the situation, with shops selling individual rolls for exorbitant prices or even offering them as incentives for customers to spend more money. At a petrol station in Schönbrunn, for example, the owners were offering two rolls of toilet paper to customers who paid to have their car washed.