Hordes of shoppers are set to flock to stores ahead of the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday, making it a bigger sales period than Christmas. People will be raising a toast to the occasion as wine sales at convenience retailer Co-op set to be 10 per cent higher than the festive period.
The store chain expects to sell 500,000 bottles of sparkling wine, 30,000 bottles of Champagne and double the amount of English fizz. Boxed wine is also set to be a winner as people are planning to get together with friends and family.
Sales of burgers and sausages are set to increase by 125 per cent, with the convenience retailer expecting to sell 500,000 sausages with many households planning a BBQ during the holiday. Some 400,000 more packets of crisps, snacks and nuts are set to be sold at Co-op, 25 per cent more than normal, with packets of larger sharing snacks set to be up 20 per cent.
The retailer’s Irresistible Sea Salt and Chardonnay crisps will be a favourite with 100,000 more packets sold and 30,000 of the newly launched Irresistible Margherita Pizza Crisps. Popcorn and nuts are also set to see to see an increase in sales during these special events and occasions.
It’s estimated that 39 million adults will be doing something to celebrate, with 4.1 million families celebrating the joyous milestone by attending a street party. However, one third of 16- to 24-year-olds will be taking advantage of the moment to celebrate with their friends, and a quarter of people aged 55 and above plan to watch the Platinum Jubilee on TV.
Matt Hood, co-managing director of Co-op Food, said: “When there is a big occasion to celebrate, we see many coming to Co-op to stock up on all the essentials to have a real party, with food at the centre. The weather has an impact on what people will be buying so if the temperature spikes we’ll expect to see BBQ items and ice lollies being the favourites, but there’s a place on every buffet table for savoury snacks such as our newly launched pizza flavoured crisps.
"Many will be raising a glass this bank holiday weekend, with either family or friends, and at Co-op we’re here to help cater for all our customers.”
Harvir Dhillon, Economist at the British Retail Consortium, added: “The upcoming Platinum Jubilee should favour retailers, with improvements to footfall over the extended Bank Holiday period as people stock up for celebrations with friends and family. Fresh food, sales of alcohol and particularly items adorned with the Union Jack are expected to perform well.”
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