Waitrose customers are gearing up for Christmas earlier than usual, with increased searches and booked delivery slots indicating festive enthusiasm.
- Threefold increase in searches for Christmas gifts and party foods observed on Waitrose.com.
- Delivery demand spikes with 70% of slots already filled, highlighting early planning by shoppers.
- Waitrose reports festive confectionery and dessert searches have doubled compared to last year.
- High demand for the Christmas range boosts volumes by 25% from the previous year.
Customers at Waitrose are embracing the festive season ahead of time, as evidenced by a significant threefold increase in online searches for Christmas gifts and seasonal party foods. This trend suggests a growing enthusiasm among shoppers to prepare early for the holiday season.
The demand for Waitrose’s delivery service has surged, with 70% of available slots filled early on. Notably, 23 December has emerged as the peak day, with nine out of ten slots already reserved. This increased booking highlights a shift towards earlier festive preparations.
In addition to gifts, there has been a notable rise in interest for festive confectionery and desserts, which have seen their searches double compared to the previous year. This suggests that consumers are not only planning their celebrations in advance but also focusing on indulgent treats.
Maddy Wilson, Waitrose’s own brand director, mentioned, “We’re seeing a huge appetite for Christmas already with online slots filling up faster than ever before and customers stocking up early on our festive treats.” This statement underscores the high demand for Waitrose’s extensive Christmas range, which has seen volumes increase by 25% compared to this time last year.
The early demand for Christmas products is not exclusive to Waitrose. Other retailers are also experiencing similar trends and are responding by intensifying their recruitment efforts to enhance customer service during this busy period. Recent initiatives by competitors such as Sainsbury’s, M&S, Aldi, and Morrisons to hire additional staff indicate a broader industry trend.
Overall, Waitrose’s experience of early festive enthusiasm reflects a wider trend within the retail sector, with customers increasingly planning ahead.
