With UK temperatures higher than in parts of Africa this week, shoppers have been quick to stock up on certain fruits and barbeque foods, Tesco reported.
The retailer is experiencing a spike in demand for berries – particularly strawberries, blueberries and raspberries – and pineapples, as well as barbeque meats, ice cream, wine and beer.
Tesco said it was bracing itself for demand to continue next week and has allocated extra shelf space for BBQ foods, beer and wine.
The supermarket’s BBQ meat range buyer Natalie Bastow said: “After months of rain and with temperatures set to hit 25C plus, this will be the first real opportunity Brits have had this year to get out into the garden and enjoy a BBQ with family and friends.
“Shoppers are wasting no time in stocking up for what is set to be a great few days of fun with al fresco cooking for a change.”
Based on rising early demand, Tesco predicted that over the course of the week to Sunday 22 April it would sell:
– More than 2 million punnets of strawberries
– Nearly 1.5m punnets of blueberries
– Nearly 1.5m punnets of raspberries
– 200,000 pineapples
– More than 8 million sausages
– Around 2 million burgers
– Nearly 2 million chicken drumsticks
– 750,000 steaks
– Around 1.5 million tubs of ice cream
– Nearly 25 million bottles/cans of beer
– Nearly million bottles of wine
