UK shoppers gravitate to picnic foods as heatwave fuels grocery trends
Heatwave weather pushed British consumers toward cold treats and ready-made picnic items, while grocery price growth slowed to its lowest pace in nearly two years.
British shoppers responded to the summer heat by loading their baskets with classic picnic fare, including potato salad, olives, coleslaw and chilled finger foods, while ice-cream and sorbet sales jumped 26%, according to Worldpanel by Numerator. Grocery price inflation eased to 2.1% in the four weeks ending 9 August, the lowest increase since October 2024, helped by promotions that accounted for 31.3% of supermarket sales - the highest share this year.
Average grocery spend fell to £410, down £14.24 from the previous period, as consumers also sought deals to stretch budgets. Online food purchases grew to £2.1 bn, a 10% rise in value, and convenience-store sales rose 3.6% year-on-year, NielsenIQ reported. Sally Ball of Worldpanel noted later evening meals and higher soft-drink spending, while NielsenIQ’s Mike Watkins said the post-World Cup slowdown and upcoming school term may temper spending further.
Why it matters
The shift shows how extreme weather can reshape consumer habits and pressure grocery price dynamics.
In this story
