Covid: Christmas comes early as grocery sales 'hit record' in November
08/12/2020
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Spending surged last month as eating out was restricted by England's national lockdown, figures suggest.
The issue is UK Tax laws which have more loopholes in them than a medieval castle. Governments of all political persuasions have the power to change these extremely complex rules - but they don't. They just add even more complex bits every time...........................
and the award for stating the bleeding obvious goes to.
It will always be food.
The answer to any stress is food.
The answer to celebrating is food.
And if you have no stress and nothing to celebrate..... the answer is ....food!
The answer to any stress is food.
The answer to celebrating is food.
And if you have no stress and nothing to celebrate..... the answer is ....food!
I'd love to know what the aggregate weight gain of the UK has been since March. In megatonnes.
What will we celebrate the end of the transition period with if there are customs issues
So it was right that they handed back a ton of cash to government.
Now, when are government lawyers going after American Big Tech to make them pay their fair share?
Anyone....?
Anyone............?
Now, when are government lawyers going after American Big Tech to make them pay their fair share?
Anyone....?
Anyone............?
Gizza jab.
This does not surprise me. Almost everything I have eaten and drank since March has come from supermarkets. Normally it would be about 75-80% since I eat out with friends a lot, travel a lot etc.
Plus I've stocked up a bit with non-perishables, just in case I have to self-isolate, so I have more food and other essentials in than usual.
Plus I've stocked up a bit with non-perishables, just in case I have to self-isolate, so I have more food and other essentials in than usual.
Add on all the extra food bought in supermarkets that would had been purchased in cafes, pubs and restaurants.
While the rest of us work and will struggle to get food as the shelves will be empty again by the time we get home through selfish greedy people .
Big thanks to them
Big thanks to them
Very clear that the Government has been pushing everyone towards the Supermarkets by closing nearly every other Retailer
The all too obvious carnage on the high street demonstrates the outcome of this ludicrous and bias policy !
The all too obvious carnage on the high street demonstrates the outcome of this ludicrous and bias policy !
It is not due to extra people going in the supermarkets, it is down to extortionate price rises. Taking advantage of people's lack of choice where to shop.
The weak pound, and vastly increased shipping charges nothing to do with it then? Just taking advantage?
You are right.
Everyone who usually visits cafes for lunch and restaurants for dinner decided that they would in fact starve when those places were closed and not consume food from a supermarket instead.
Everyone who usually visits cafes for lunch and restaurants for dinner decided that they would in fact starve when those places were closed and not consume food from a supermarket instead.
I think a fair few people might be buying extra now in the anticipation that the shelves might look like the GDR come January....
Or it could simply be people stocking up on non-perishables early to avoid the crowds nearer Christmas.
People buying extra because they might be empty is what causes them to be empty.
You doom mongers are going to be very disappointed when the UK economy booms next year, while the EU slides into acrimonious disputes with itself. Most people in the UK work for SMEs, and most SMEs are doing very well at the moment.
This is NOT a good thing. It's just a symptom of closing everything else for months. We're kidding ourselves if we think the little boutique shops, pubs, hair salons, etc are going to all open up again soon, most wont, too much damage has been done over a long period. This means huge unemployment. Next year, when supermarket profits aren't as high as this year they'll announce mass-redundancies...
If only doom and gloom could be bottled and sold, there'll be a million new shops on the high street, and never a supply issue.
Ben? Jeremiah might be more accurate, or Frazer from Dad's Army. I live in a medium sized market town where my wife has a boutique shop and she's really really busy. The High St today was really really busy. Sure, some will not survive but I think your apocalyptic view is a bit ott.
and the award for stating the bleeding obvious goes to.
So it was right that they handed back a ton of cash to government.
Now, when are government lawyers going after American Big Tech to make them pay their fair share?
Anyone....?
Anyone............?
Now, when are government lawyers going after American Big Tech to make them pay their fair share?
Anyone....?
Anyone............?
Good tactics m8. good tactics.
tactics, m8, tactics.
Shop bought fresh mince pies have a 20 day shelf-life so no point in buying them in November unless eaten then. Shop bought packaged mince pies have a longer shelf-life but are not usually as tasty so no point in buying for the sake of it.
Why have a 3 week shelf life on an item that is devoured in 3 minutes?
The ones I bought last week have a best before date of March next year. So either mine were baked in Sellafield or you are buying the wrong type.
How many corrupt business donations have been made to political parties, particularly Bojos mob. Corruption, sleaze and politics are endemic in this country
If you have any evidence of criminal wrong doing I suggest that you contact the police. Unless of course you just make things up.
The big winners out of covid have been the supermarkets. Prices have stayed high, Asda broke its fuel promise almost immediately. Sick of their self righteous garbage, they are absolutely screwing us all over.
I’ve been stocking up not for commercialised Christmas but for the impending Brexit chaos. England is stuffed, thanks to its own people. Best of luck to Scotland and Wales.
You're stocking up? For crying out loud really? Even after the chaos that caused earlier this year? Inconsiderate.
You do know that by doing that you are "propping up the rich" dont you.
Scotland will end the UK very soon and the English based rabid press will encourage the likes of Johnson to get shot of Wales and NI , someone like Forage will start a campaign & NI & Wales won't even get the gift of a referendum as the English britnat types will set it up so as England only gets to vote on the issue
It is frankly written in the stars Wales & NI are deficit economies this occur
It is frankly written in the stars Wales & NI are deficit economies this occur
What? Wales is part of the UK and had more leave votes than the other home nations.
You are going to be very disappointed eating all those baked beans next year, while the rest of us dine well on the success of Brexit. :-)
Pains me to think of how much will be wasted.
Christmas is a pointless orgy of gluttony and plastic tat. I pretty much ignore it now, have a quiet day with my partner, sensible lunch, wild salmon or something, walk if the weather is decent, a couple of rounds of scrabble perhaps. I say that as a church goer too. Not sure why the sheeple make such a ridiculous fuss about it.
Correct. The same folk moaning are the same folk who overbuy
I’ve been stocking up not for commercialised Christmas but for the impending Brexit chaos. England is stuffed, thanks to its own people. Best of luck to Scotland and Wales.
I think the reality is: people quietly stockpiling as Johnson’s Brexit catastrophe draws near.
People stockpiling before the Brexit disater turns into the inevitable catastrophe. You can't blame them.
People buying extra to celebrate leaving on 31st December. Best New Year ever... lol
more likely for xmas, grow up re brexit. Plenty of food for the new year
We leave the EU and people eat turkey all year... makes perfect sense...
Not really surprising is it. We're all bored out of our minds and everything else is shut. Food shopping is now the most exciting trip out I get all week.
When going out for food shopping is your break from boredom, sounds like you need to take up a hobby or two!
I don't even get to go food shopping my missus has claimed that pleasure for herself.
I prefer to take the dog out for a long walk or go on a cycle ride, beats an overcrowded supermarket trip with all that pushing and shoving any day.
Oh come on; it's not as if finding something interesting to do is that hard, or expensive.
So far this year, I've been walking for 10-15 hours a week, have completely remodelled my garden, redecorated upstairs, been fishing more regularly & read a lot more books.
I've other interests too, which I have pretty much carried on with as usual.
So far this year, I've been walking for 10-15 hours a week, have completely remodelled my garden, redecorated upstairs, been fishing more regularly & read a lot more books.
I've other interests too, which I have pretty much carried on with as usual.
I think the reality is: people quietly stockpiling as Johnson’s Brexit catastrophe draws near.
The UK is booming. Most people in the UK work for SMEs. Most SMEs are rushed off their feet at the moment, and brimming with confidence. Only dinosaur companies are not able to adapt to Brexit. Time for No Deal with the EU, then we can build trade arrangements with them over time that both us and them.
Ok. I voted leave. I hope we'll do well. But we are not booming. We are floundering. Not because of Brexit, but because most small business' haven't survived being closed for months. We are in a recession.
Yep, my business has never been in better health. Flexible, ready and able. Already trebled orders to the USA. The only variable out of our hands are heat and light currently.
I think a fair few people might be buying extra now in the anticipation that the shelves might look like the GDR come January....
Yep, I literally just got back from buying all the non-perishables well in advance. Got all the meat ordered from local butchers, veg from local greengrocers. Christmas shopping within a week of Christmas is a nightmare.
People stockpiling before the Brexit disater turns into the inevitable catastrophe. You can't blame them.
Technically we already left.
Remember we had the party in January?
The one where Julia Hartley Brewer was in a dress?
Remember we had the party in January?
The one where Julia Hartley Brewer was in a dress?
Yep. I have my English sparkling wine (far better value than Champagne, usually beats it in blind tastings and a much superior beast to cheap n nasty Cava or Prosecco) in the fridge to celebrate. :-)
I think the reality is: people quietly stockpiling as Johnson’s Brexit catastrophe draws near.
Some £10.9bn was spent as eating and drinking out
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
You can buy quite a lot of food for 6 quid depending on where you shop.
I lived on £2 per day for two years when I had my own business. Not fun, but doable. I wont be going into business again!
Is this undetected sarcasm?
It doesn’t seem a lot considering food inflation but with meal planning and batch cooking (no junk food or alcohol) it’s doable.
It doesn’t seem a lot considering food inflation but with meal planning and batch cooking (no junk food or alcohol) it’s doable.
My late mum told me I should budget £2 per person per evening meal and I think apart from the occasional treat I manage to do that, and eat pretty well. Just cook from basic ingredients. Don't eat out. Look on the bargain counters. Don't waste food.
"However, he said mince pie sales were down by 8%, reflecting "fewer opportunities to share a treat with friends and colleagues"."
Really... What does that even mean? The old sharing of the mince pie tradition... It's just another drivel.
Should we be aiming to spend exactly the same every year on exactly the same things? What is the point of this article?
Really... What does that even mean? The old sharing of the mince pie tradition... It's just another drivel.
Should we be aiming to spend exactly the same every year on exactly the same things? What is the point of this article?
Given my mince pie intake last year, I'd say that 8% loss is most likely from my diet this year
Mince pie sales are down but jars of mincemeat are up. People learned to bake for themselves through lockdown.
Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in retail is analysed down to the Nth degree. If there's an 8% drop in mince pie sales, that will translate into millions of £ not otherwise spent on mince pies. That will be revenue the large factory-bakers will not be getting and will affect supplies, hiring and wages accordingly. You can bet they'll know EXACTLY why that is.
My mince pie purchases are still the same. One of the high points for me.
I’ve been stocking up not for commercialised Christmas but for the impending Brexit chaos. England is stuffed, thanks to its own people. Best of luck to Scotland and Wales.
I'm buying all food for Christmas from local shops. Supermarkets have had enough of a bonanza this year. Support local this year please
I'm close to the New Forest, so went to one of the farm shops for almost everything.
It's a nice thought but what would happen if several hundred people descend on a local farm shop - every local farm shop - in one day?
Buy local for the niche stuff when you can and the supermarket for everything else. They're not mutually exclusive.
Buy local for the niche stuff when you can and the supermarket for everything else. They're not mutually exclusive.
What do you mean by local?
The small corner shop who buys all the stock from a large cash and carry?
Or perhaps go down to the farm and get it from source?
The small corner shop who buys all the stock from a large cash and carry?
Or perhaps go down to the farm and get it from source?
I try to when I can but it's been difficult, let's face it. We have loads of shops closing down in the north west of England (pre-Covid as well as now). I try to support local shops when I can.
Supporting local shops is fine if you can. For those of us who live in the cities the local shops are supermarkets.
The UK is booming. Most people in the UK work for SMEs. Most SMEs are rushed off their feet at the moment, and brimming with confidence. Only dinosaur companies are not able to adapt to Brexit. Time for No Deal with the EU, then we can build trade arrangements with them over time that both us and them.
People stockpiling before the Brexit disater turns into the inevitable catastrophe. You can't blame them.
People stockpiling before the Brexit disater turns into the inevitable catastrophe. You can't blame them.
I’ve been stocking up not for commercialised Christmas but for the impending Brexit chaos. England is stuffed, thanks to its own people. Best of luck to Scotland and Wales.
Scotland will end the UK very soon and the English based rabid press will encourage the likes of Johnson to get shot of Wales and NI , someone like Forage will start a campaign & NI & Wales won't even get the gift of a referendum as the English britnat types will set it up so as England only gets to vote on the issue
It is frankly written in the stars Wales & NI are deficit economies this occur
It is frankly written in the stars Wales & NI are deficit economies this occur
"However, he said mince pie sales were down by 8%, reflecting "fewer opportunities to share a treat with friends and colleagues"."
Really... What does that even mean? The old sharing of the mince pie tradition... It's just another drivel.
Should we be aiming to spend exactly the same every year on exactly the same things? What is the point of this article?
Really... What does that even mean? The old sharing of the mince pie tradition... It's just another drivel.
Should we be aiming to spend exactly the same every year on exactly the same things? What is the point of this article?
The big winners out of covid have been the supermarkets. Prices have stayed high, Asda broke its fuel promise almost immediately. Sick of their self righteous garbage, they are absolutely screwing us all over.
We've not stock piled food but we have spent more on gifts. Because we have saved money on transport, it's gone in to Christmas instead, be it presents or decorations. To make Christmas extra special. Although, I would ask, if you have a bit extra yourselves this year, maybe drop something in the food bank, food and or a gift or look up Wave 105 they are doing Christmas Mission for kids.
I'm buying all food for Christmas from local shops. Supermarkets have had enough of a bonanza this year. Support local this year please
I made the mistake of buying some sausages from Sainsbury's last week. Their premium range too. Eeuuggh!!!! Apologised to my local butcher for being so daft the next time I want in. No more supermarket sausages for me!
Some £10.9bn was spent as eating and drinking out
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
Really ???? with 6 quid????? yeah if you meant baby potatoes??? I recall one small pack one quid, you could get 6 pack
assuming a brit eat a pack per day in a week and leave last day's meal from food bank???
assuming a brit eat a pack per day in a week and leave last day's meal from food bank???
You do know that by doing that you are "propping up the rich" dont you.
But we pay less income tax here, although more tax on booze, fags and petrol than most others.
No real surprise is it. I mean we bought extra food because we had less access to the hospitality venues due to closures. This story is like trying to promote the Pope being a Catholic as astonishing news.
Is he (shock horror)
I had no idea
I had no idea
I’ve been stocking up not for commercialised Christmas but for the impending Brexit chaos. England is stuffed, thanks to its own people. Best of luck to Scotland and Wales.
I think a fair few people might be buying extra now in the anticipation that the shelves might look like the GDR come January....
Don’t worry there is no naughty list. If I hear that advert once more! Grrr
It's "Riz"
"There riz no naughty list"
He says it twice in case you couldn't believe how bad his enunciation was the first time.
"There riz no naughty list"
He says it twice in case you couldn't believe how bad his enunciation was the first time.
At least it isn't as bad as those dreadful meerkats or the Go Compare man.
Almost as bad as the cretin on the Asda ad.
Removed
With you there, I do wonder what they do with shoplifters though?
Why my post about how awful the Asda advert character was got removed! Do you think the moderator is a fan?
The UK is booming. Most people in the UK work for SMEs. Most SMEs are rushed off their feet at the moment, and brimming with confidence. Only dinosaur companies are not able to adapt to Brexit. Time for No Deal with the EU, then we can build trade arrangements with them over time that both us and them.
Not really surprising is it. We're all bored out of our minds and everything else is shut. Food shopping is now the most exciting trip out I get all week.
But if your hobbies are now all banned/restricted by this over-reaching Government...
I soon got bored of hobbies. There's a difference between doing part of your hobby every now and then and then all time because there's nothing else to do.
What's your hobby Mal, being a patronising and judgemental oik?
I have lots of hobbies and far too much time to do them. You do need some variety, you know and I like browsing for goods, not buying on line. In ten months I've been in a shopping centre exactly twice. And I used to do that every month! Out of town supermarket once a week is a highlight for me too.
What if your hobby is being a keen amateur chef? We all need to find exciting new ways of serving turnips to serve our post-Brexit diet.
You’ve rather missed the point: whatever you mean by a ‘hobby’, theatre or concert going, dance studios, artistic and intellectual events, all cancelled.
Pains me to think of how much will be wasted.
Very good KH!
Well played.
Some £10.9bn was spent as eating and drinking out
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
Steve, you must be joking
If you meant 2 £ per day in 1800s, you were a rich man
If you meant 2 £ per day in 1800s, you were a rich man
"Overreaching"?
Oh don't be silly.
Apart from the first few weeks in late March & April, the restrictions have mostly affected going down the 'spoons & getting bladdered.
If you want overreaching, I suggest you try China, where they blocked all exits from housing blocks & the food you got was what you were given.
Oh don't be silly.
Apart from the first few weeks in late March & April, the restrictions have mostly affected going down the 'spoons & getting bladdered.
If you want overreaching, I suggest you try China, where they blocked all exits from housing blocks & the food you got was what you were given.
The smart people are stockpiling for Brexit already.
No the selfish people are stockpiling. If you stockpile, you are contributing to the shelves looking empty. If people see empty shelves, they get scared and buy more. Which only make more shelves look empty and then someone else gets scared and....
Some £10.9bn was spent as eating and drinking out
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
= It works out about £ 45 per brit per week or around 6 £ per brit per day
This IS miserable
How could some survive on 6 £ per day for food and drink, poverty !!!!
The UK is booming. Most people in the UK work for SMEs. Most SMEs are rushed off their feet at the moment, and brimming with confidence. Only dinosaur companies are not able to adapt to Brexit. Time for No Deal with the EU, then we can build trade arrangements with them over time that both us and them.
I usually have a quiet December and use if for maintenance and preparation, but the phone calls and emails and online orders just keep rolling in!!
To be fair, the supermarkets were always going to "do well" in the pandemic. They're the only ones with the nationwide infrastructure to (a) gather a vast range of disparate products together in one local building and (b) have the wherewithall to arrange home delivery and/or the space to personally shop while being socially distanced.
How hard would it have been if we'd just had corner shops?
How hard would it have been if we'd just had corner shops?
I think a fair few people might be buying extra now in the anticipation that the shelves might look like the GDR come January....
Utter nonsense. The UK economy has been closed for months. Debt collectors will be booming next year, I grant you that.
A real-life Quitling! You'll be popular in the queues for the soup kitchens next year, that's for sure...
Based on what? Becuase hopes and dreams aren't appropriate justification
Most people don't and as for the assertion that most SMEs are doing well can be confirmed as wishful thinking by spending a few seconds on Google.
People buying extra to celebrate leaving on 31st December. Best New Year ever... lol
The smart people are stockpiling for Brexit already.
I couldn't help it. The endless piped Christmas music made me do it..
They seemed to be playing lonely this Christmas on a loop at my local supermarket the other day
The smart people are stockpiling for Brexit already.
I’ve been stocking up not for commercialised Christmas but for the impending Brexit chaos. England is stuffed, thanks to its own people. Best of luck to Scotland and Wales.
Gone to less than a weeks wage, a month, due to being laid off in August. Sat at home wearing two jumpers, to keep warm, and haven't got much in, to eat, for tonight. But it's Dole day tomorrow, so life ain't that bad. Just got to hang in there, and I consider myself lucky...
Just two jumpers? Those are rookie layers! You need to up those numbers! I'm in a thermal vest, thermal long sleeve, long sleeve, jumper, second jumper and hooded cardigan. Layers like this haven't been worn since my grandparents day.
Fingers crossed. Hopefully soon Boris will pull his thumb out of Hancock's arse and they'll realise what damage they're doing to the economy.
Removed
Good luck to you. Hopefully there should be help available in your community and certainly your work coach at jobcentre can access lots of stuff. Try volunteering it gets you out, good for mental health and often there's tea and biscuits too
So on the dole, yet you can obviously afford either a broadband connection or a smartphone with paid data access.
Unfortunately it doesn't end with Covid: the B word is coming to bite us, forever!
Keep going. No one can promise it'll get better but you cant stop.
Wishing you well. Take care <3
Good on you. I can afford heating but rarely light it. Far too many waste money heating whole houses to silly temperatures. Been no possible need of any heating until the last few days. Nov was warm! Food is cheap, stick to value ranges, I do.
This is NOT a good thing. It's just a symptom of closing everything else for months. We're kidding ourselves if we think the little boutique shops, pubs, hair salons, etc are going to all open up again soon, most wont, too much damage has been done over a long period. This means huge unemployment. Next year, when supermarket profits aren't as high as this year they'll announce mass-redundancies...
That wont help. It will just see off many small business' that are desperately clinging on.
Another lockdown wont be feasible in January. Firstly the economy would collapse and secondly people have had enough and wont comply.
Really, it's irrelevant if there is or isn't. With many going to have another 2 week period of downtime for Christmas, the economy already on its arse, another spike will just be tomorrow's chip paper.
I'm buying all food for Christmas from local shops. Supermarkets have had enough of a bonanza this year. Support local this year please
I didn't say anything about farm shops. Local market, local butcher, local grocer. It's quite simple really
Then the farm shop could expand, or perhaps another one would open nearby. Stick it to the supermarkets I say!
People buying extra to celebrate leaving on 31st December. Best New Year ever... lol
What a load of rubbish, we have actually spent less than we ever had this Xmas, as we'll not be mixing with family.
Well that changes everything! I'm surprised the BBC didn't ask you before they wrote the article...
Christmas, the vaccine...............................nope......................nothing, but nothing will ever make the regular HYS whiners happy.........
So, we have food retailers doing record trade. We also have food banks and charitable meal suppliers doing record trade.
Go figure.....
Go figure.....
Thankfully some of the British owned supermarkets stepped in to make substantial bulk food donations to the food charities as public donations have fallen quite considerably. On behalf of one of the biggest charities thank you Tesco and Morrisons for donating hundreds and hundreds of tonnes of food to keep the food banks well stocked
Germany has more food banks than the UK, has for a long time. I thought remainers told us that Germany was the land of gold pavements and everyone thriving.
Gone to less than a weeks wage, a month, due to being laid off in August. Sat at home wearing two jumpers, to keep warm, and haven't got much in, to eat, for tonight. But it's Dole day tomorrow, so life ain't that bad. Just got to hang in there, and I consider myself lucky...
Now, when are government lawyers going after American Big Tech to make them pay their fair share?
Anyone....?
Anyone............?