Heatwave leads to hottest grocery sales growth in five years

Soaring temperatures push convenience sales up and further good news is expected with hot weather set to stay

During the past four weeks, convenience stores saw sales grow by 7% as shoppers used their local shops for last-minute top-ups, ice creams, barbecue food and those all-essential chilled beers, wines and soft drinks.
 
Recent research from Nielsen revealed that UK shoppers spent 4.5% more on groceries during the past four weeks as high temperatures coincided with the feel-good factor of England’s strong performance in the World Cup.
 
The figures also showed that entertaining and dining al fresco products experienced the most growth in July. Ice cream sales grew 28%, fresh burgers 35% and olives 10%, as shoppers stocked up for picnics and barbecues.
 
Mike Watkins, Nielsen’s UK head of retailer insight, said:  “The last four weeks have been a strong trading period for food retailers, with volume growths the best they’ve been since July 2013. This is great news for retailers and manufacturers as shoppers are buying more food and drink.

“It’s also good news that the hot summer weather looks set to continue for the next few weeks, with the hottest days of the year expected later this week. With the summer holiday season now truly underway, retailers will be planning inspiring media campaigns supported by compelling in-store promotions, to encourage shoppers to keep spending.”
 
According to the Office of National Statistics, the previous three months to June 2018 saw the largest increase in quantity bought in retail sales increased by 2.1% with food stores seeing the strongest growth.
heatwave Nielsen research sales summer