An early festive spirit is sweeping across Waitrose shoppers as searches for Christmas items triple compared to last year.
- Waitrose reports a significant rise in demand for Christmas gifts and seasonal foods, with festive confectionery and desserts seeing a twofold increase.
- Delivery slots are being reserved rapidly, with 70% of all slots already filled and the most popular day being 23 December, where 90% are booked.
- Maddy Wilson, Waitrose’s own brand director, attributes this surge to customers preparing early by stocking up on festive treats.
- Amidst this increased demand, several retailers, including Sainsbury’s and Aldi, have announced a recruitment drive to enhance customer service.
The festive season has arrived early for Waitrose shoppers, who have shown an immense enthusiasm for Christmas as searches on Waitrose.com for holiday-related items have tripled compared to last year. The upmarket grocer notes a notable surge in the interest for Christmas gifts and seasonal party foods, while festive confectionery and desserts have already witnessed a doubling in interest.
In addition to the rising searches for Christmas goods, Waitrose’s delivery service is experiencing significant demand. The supermarket has reported that 70% of its delivery slots are already occupied, with a particular rush noted for the 23rd of December – a day where nine out of ten slots are secured.
In response to this burgeoning Christmas spirit, Maddy Wilson, Waitrose’s own brand director, commented on the situation: ‘We’re seeing a huge appetite for Christmas already with online slots filling up faster than ever before and customers stocking up early on our festive treats.’ She further pointed out that their Christmas range, comprising over 500 products, is witnessing a 25% increase in volume from the previous year, underscoring the robust demand.
The early anticipation of the festive season coincides with a broader trend among retailers to ramp up preparations for the demanding holiday period. Sainsbury’s, M&S, Aldi, and Morrisons are proactively addressing the expected rise in consumer activity by initiating a substantial recruitment drive to bolster their workforce, ensuring enhanced customer service during the bustling holiday season.
As the festive season approaches, early preparations by Waitrose shoppers highlight a broader trend of increased consumer enthusiasm and retailer readiness.
