Hi there,
There are predictions of snow for later this week, but donāt forget we are only a few weeks away from changing our clocks and welcoming extra hours of daylight.
Itās been a long Winter and we still have challenges to face, but there is plenty to look forward toā¦
We face inflation and shortagesā¦
Speaking of challenges, grocery price inflation rose again to reach 17.1% this month, this means the average household is expected to spend an extra Ā£811 in the supermarket this year.
We have also been dealing with shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables in the UK, in particular weāve been struggling to get tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, salad bags, broccoli and cauliflowers.
Experts have predicted these shortages will last up to 4 weeks, caus
ing supermarkets to restrict the number of items bought per shopper.
Events you can Spring into š°
With Spring just around the corner, itās time to think about the extra hours of daylight and the benefits they will bring.
Hearty comfort food is out as many of us enjoy the first BBQs and picnics of the year. Whether you can offer a new drink to serve at a picnic or a condiment to impress BBQ guests, this is a great time of year to attract a new shopper.
As the clocks go forward at the end of March, our evenings become lighter and we find the energy to do a little more. You might want to offer new recipes and inspiration for dinner parties or Easter-themed brunch.
This year, Easter Sunday falls on the 9th of April, slightly earlier than last year.
In 2022, Easter eggs and novelties showed year-on-year growth - adding Ā£19.2m incremental sales through tills. However, this growth was driven by increased prices. Unit sales dropped 5.4%.
It will be the first Easter since the HFSS restrictions came into effect, so we won't see Easter eggs stacked high at the front of store or creme eggs tempting us at the checkout!
As people are watching their spend, it will be interesting to see if inflation is enough to offset the predicted volume declines this year.
There are several events leading up to Easter that you can make the most of with your brands, such as; Mother's Day, Ramadan, International Women's Day, and St. Patrick's Day.
Which event is the best fit for your category?
Please get in touch if there is anything we can do to support you or your business.
Stay safe, well and positive!
Ella
P.S. Let me know if there are any hot topics youād like me to include in the next newsletter!
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