Picky Brits: Heatwave fuels surge in finger food spending
Record summer temperatures have driven a surge in “picky bits” spending as British shoppers rush to the chilled aisle in a boost to UK supermarkets. The sweltering heat is causing Brits to cut back their grocery bills, instead spending little and often on items like olives and quiche, according to figures from Worldpanel by Numerator. [...]
British shoppers have been indulging in a variety of "picky bits" during a record-breaking heatwave, driving a surge in chilled food sales. The sweltering temperatures have led people to opt for grazing and smaller, more frequent grocery trips, according to figures from Worldpanel by Numerator. Sales of dips, chilled quiches, and other finger foods have all seen growth, with dips increasing by 23.3 per cent, quiches by 15.8 per cent, and chilled foods in general up by 15.2 per cent.
Sally Ball, Worldpanel’s business unit director, noted that the heat has altered eating habits, with meals now often starting later in the day. Supermarkets like Aldi and Tesco have responded by offering a wider range of chilled foods to cater to this trend. The heat has also led to a record number of supermarket visits, with 497 million trips made in July, the highest since March 2020.
Despite this, the average shopper spent £14.24 less on groceries in the week to August 9 compared to the previous month, as food inflation slowed to 2.1 per cent - the lowest since October 2024.
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