Another cold snap might be heading our way but Easter 2018 is expected to herald hot sales for the UK’s convenience retailers.
Increased spending on Easter eggs and other confectionery, plus a 10.8% rise in at-home entertaining, are expected to support overall growth, new research from IBISWorld shows.
Last year, sales of Easter eggs and confectionery goods reached £375m and this year spending on chocolates and sweets is expected to rise even higher to £395m.
“The bank holiday also provides an excellent opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones and plans for at-home entertaining are likely to spur spending on groceries,” IBSWorld analyst Nadine Fisher said.
Sales of greetings cards are also expected to rise by 1.9% to £10.5m.
Linda Williams of Broadway Convenience Store in Edinburgh said chocolate Easter eggs were still selling strongly despite the opening of an Aldi discount store just metres away.
In Amberly Village Stores, West Sussex, store owner Colin Woods is anticipating a 20% rise in sales over the four days, driven largely by locally-baked hot cross buns and groceries for at home-entertaining.
“We don’t sell many Easter eggs as the multiples are so price competitive but we have a huge advantage when it comes to fresh local produce which is always a big hit over Easter. I already have more than 400 hot crossed buns which are made by a local baker, on pre-order for collection on Friday,” he said.
The UK’s Met Office is predicting “unsettled weather” over the Easter weekend, with “showers or longer outbreaks of rain likely to affect all parts”.
“It is also going to feel cold with a risk of snow in some places, particularly across higher ground in the northeast of the UK,” the Met Office said.
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