Record summer temperatures are driving a surge in spending on "picky bits" as British shoppers increasingly opt for chilled foods over hot meals. Figures from Worldpanel by Numerator show that sales of dips rose by 23.3 per cent, with coleslaw sales growing by 23.1 per cent.
The heat has also led to a record number of supermarket trips, with 497 million visits to grocers in July. This marks the highest figure recorded since March 2020, as shoppers top up on items like olives and quiche, and cooling drinks.
Despite industry warnings about potential cost increases, grocery price inflation has slowed to 2.1 per cent, the lowest rate since October 2024. Worldpanel's analysis suggests that supermarkets are offering more promotions, with 31.3 per cent of grocery sales in the last month including a deal.