Spending on groceries hits new high after shoppers visit supermarkets average of 17 times each over Christmas
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SHOPPERS hit supermarkets an average of 17 times each during December — pushing up spending on groceries to a new high. Stocking up on festive treats saw food and drink bills hit £460 per household, according to data from researchers at Kantar. Spokesman Fraser McKevitt said December was “the busiest month for the retailers since the pre-lockdown rush in March 2020”.
![[Shoppers hit supermarkets an average of 17 times each during December]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/features-sun-reporter-clare-oreilly-953121786.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Retail experts suggested the high frequency of trips was due to savvy customers switching stores to get the best deals and take advantage of different promotions. There was a price war on vegetables, which saw bags of carrots sold for 8p, but overall food prices were higher.
![[Kylie Miniogue's own range of no-booze fizz was among the biggest drivers of growth for teetotal tipple]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/50cea116-8fa2-4ce1-9449-d2d642e818ee.jpg?strip=all&w=640)
Food inflation shot up in December to 3.7 per cent compared to 2.6 per cent in November. It was driven by rapid price rises in juices, chocolate and skincare, said Kantar. That didn’t stop 7.4million households picking up a celebratory bottle of fizz. However almost one million households opted for zero or low-alcohol sparkling wine.
![[Shein's general counsel Yinan Zhu said the brand was complying with relevant regulations]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/screen-grab-yinan-zhu-general-962198931.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Kylie Miniogue's own range of no-booze fizz, and Aldi's own-label range, were the biggest drivers of growth for teetotal tipple. The Aussie pop star launched hers in 2022 but the trend for people cutting down on booze has gathered pace in the past year.
![[Housebuilding dropped at the fastest rate in half a year in December]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NINTCHDBPICT000962159009.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Ocado claimed the festive trading crown after its sales surged by 9.6 per cent. The upmarket online grocer typically does well at Christmas when people trade up to treat friends and families to Yuletide luxuries. By comparison Asda was a standout loser, with sales slumping by 5.8 per cent at a time when all of its big rivals grew sales.
