Lidl GB is gearing up for a strong Christmas period, marked by an 11% increase in customer visits over the past six weeks.
Early festive frenzy unveiled
Lidl GB's CEO Ryan McDonnell revealed a trend of early Christmas preparations, evidenced by a surge in sales.
The company claimed that two mince pies have been sold every second since September, and September alone witnessed the sale of seven packs of Lidl's stollen bites every minute.
Furthermore, one in five panettones purchased in the UK this year is expected to be from Lidl, the company stated.
The Middle of Lidl has also reportedly witnessed a swift turnover of gifts and decorations, including its mini snow globe product being sold every two seconds on the first day of sale this month.
“It goes without saying that the past year has been challenging for so many people but, despite this, we can see that shoppers have been in the Christmas spirit since as early as September when the first Christmas lines went on sale.
"Over the past six weeks alone we’ve seen a massive surge in the number of customers coming through our doors and it’s clear that households are getting prepared well ahead of celebrations,” McDonnell said.
Financial shifts and taste triumphs
The CEO shared insights from Kantar data, indicating a £685m ($865.2m) switch in spending to Lidl GB throughout 2023, with £58m allegedly diverted from premium supermarkets such as Waitrose, M&S, and Ocado.
The supermarket chain also claimed that value-conscious shoppers have increasingly been won over by its offerings.
Noteworthy is the success of its Deluxe Lobster Tails, which almost sold out since their late September launch, as well as a 17% surge in red wine sales.
The retailer said that in a recent independent blind taste test, Lidl's £14.49 Montaudon Champagne triumphed over its upscale competitor Moet, which retails at nearly three times the price.
Record predictions
Lidl GB foresees its busiest day on Friday 22 December, with an anticipated footfall exceeding two million shoppers - surpassing this year's previous peak achieved on Easter Saturday.
The company expects the holiday spirit to persist, with teams ready to welcome a record number of customers.
