Supermarket sales drop by 10% after last month’s panic buying as people ease up on stockpiling

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Supermarket sales drop by 10% after last month’s panic buying as people ease up on stockpiling

  • Large Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons stores have seen a drop in sales 
  • Less stockpiling and social distancing measures have led to a dip in sales

By Neil Craven for The Mail on Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Supermarket chains are suffering a lockdown hang-over after last month’s panic-buying was followed by a sudden fall in sales over the past fortnight.

Two senior sources said the easing of stockpiling and stringent social distancing measures have led to a dip in sales at large stores run by Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.

Some had a 50 per cent uplift in sales. But sales at big supermarkets slid last week by as much as 10 per cent compared with the run-up to Easter last year.

Sales at big supermarkets slid last week by 10% compared with the run-up to Easter last year

One director said: ‘There has been a shocking turnaround. Social distancing measures have been crippling stores compared to the gigantic sales increases over the previous weeks.’

Another said the queues outside supermarkets were prompting some shoppers to top up in small shops.

A grocery source said: ‘It’s volatile and it’s going to be difficult to see through this, predict behaviour and plan accordingly over the coming weeks as guidelines change,’ Smaller shops and convenience stores have been less affected by the sudden lull in demand, sources said.

 

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