Shoppers who visited Sydney's Neutral Bay Woolworths were left in shock as many shelves were left bare.

Although some thought it was due to panic buying because of the coronavirus pandemic, Woolworths has said in a statement it was for another purpose.

The store's products were deliberately removed to show the significant role that bees and insects play in Australia's food supply.

With the 2020 bushfires alone destroying 15.6 million hectares of forests, the food supply for bees and homes for insects is rapidly dwindling.

Woolworths Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said that he hoped the stunt would show people how much their personal food supply would be impacted.

“As the Fresh Food People, we’re passionate about providing millions of Australians access to the fresh food they love most," he said. "What many people don’t realise is how much of our food supply relies directly on pollinating bees."

“Our goal here is to start a conversation in Australian homes about what a supermarket without bees would look like and how their impact goes far beyond just fruit and vegetables. However, if we take small actions to support bees and pollination today, we can create a better tomorrow and prevent this from becoming a reality.”