A run of scorching weather buoyed supermarket sales in recent months as shoppers stocked up on gin, tonic water, soft drinks and hay fever remedies.

 

It seems suntans and ice creams aren’t the only advantages of the warmer weather. Downtrodden retailers are now getting a bit of an uplift, with the increase in food and drink sales, as well as hay fever medicine. This will hopefully continue for as long as the sun is out and even encourage stronger consumer confidence.

According to new figures from the Kantar Worldpanel, Britain’s supermarkets have reported a combined revenue of £27.1 billion in the 12 weeks to June 17. This is 2.1 per cent higher than the same period last year, as sales of spirits and soft drinks have skyrocketed. This could illustrate a shift in consumer behaviour as accelerated wage growth and steady employment activity have eased pressure on household budgets.

Last month, British consumers experienced record-high temperatures, with many flocking to parks and beaches to drink and eat recreationally with friends and family. Contrasting with the penny-pinching and generally cautious consumer behaviour demonstrated prior, retailers could witness a dramatic loosing of the purse strings.

Whether profits prove sustainable or not, business owners should prepare for the fallout. At the Credit Protection Association, we urge our Members to not only free up cash flow but maintain impeccable financial records. As economical behaviour proves erratic, our Members should scrutinise all business transactions to avoid becoming an insolvency statistic.

Kantar Worldpanel’s Fraser McKevitt said: “With maximum average temperatures hitting 17 degrees and a record 245.3 hours of sunshine, sales of hay fever remedies are up 19 per cent year-on-year… reflecting Met Office predictions of record pollen levels.”

Morrisons led the way among the “big four” supermarket chains with sales rising 1.9pc, boosted by demand for “wonky” fruit and vegetables, which are now bought by 12pc of its customers.

The sun came out in May and our sales trends suggest that the British public decided to take advantage of the fantastic weatherGiles Hurley, Aldi

Asda and Tesco notched up growth of 1.8pc and 1.4pc respectively, but Sainsbury’s sales went into reverse, down 0.2pc. All four lost market share, however, as Aldi, Lidl and online grocer Ocado continued to grow ahead of the sector.

Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK & Ireland, said: “The sun came out in May and our sales trends suggest that the British public decided to take advantage of the fantastic weather, with our most popular items ranging from our fresh British barbecue offer to our gardening tools and bedding plant range.”

The last bout of extreme weather hit business sectors hard, with retail and service sectors, as well as construction companies, all suffering from the weeks of heavy snow that befell British high streets back in March. It seems geological pressure has once again taken hold over British businesses; but this time, for the better. With current temperatures reaching as high as 28 degrees in London, consumers are flooding to their local supermarkets and off-licences for nourishment as the unexpected heat continues.
This has been good news for supermarket retailers, who have seen their sales of gin and soft drinks spike by 6 and 7 per cent respectively. Hopefully, this positive behaviour will not prove temporary as with previous cultural celebrations, such as the FA Cup and Royal Wedding last month.
Businesses can ensure sustainability by refocussing on cash flow and investing in new ways to incite strong consumer interest. If the sunshine continues, sales of picnic blankets could rise, along with foldable chairs, picnic hampers and other such big-ticket items. To encourage consumers to purchase such items, retailers can invest in new technology, new marketing campaigns and techniques, to gauge customer attention.
At the Credit Protection Association, our debt recovery services free up cash flow and provide our Members with the financial opportunity to invest. Once we have recovered their residual debt or unpaid invoices, some of our Members have gone on to purchase new products and services to keep profits high while temperatures are as such.

Please call us on 0330 053 9263 to discuss how CPA can help your cashflow.
Alternatively, either email us or use our contact form.

I consent to supplying my personal information that may be used for marketing purposes and agree with the privacy policy.

Firms Hurt by Insolvency “Domino Effect”

Previous Post

The Latest Insolvencies to 27 Jun 2018

Next Post

Ready to speak to an advisor?

For help or advice on credit management, entirely without obligation.
Call us today

0330 053 9263