19 March 2008, 16:03 PM
  • The eight days of Easter 2008 are expected to be worth £8 billion to UK retailers, up three per cent on last year.

It is predicted that some £4.4 billion will have been spent in the four days leading up to Easter, with a further £3.6billion over the Easter weekend
(Good Friday – Easter Monday inclusive).

And, it seems food and drink retailers are likely to see the majority of the spend, with £4.2 billion being shelled out on food and drink over the eight
days. This would be over £500 million more than in an average, comparable eight day period. 

Stephen Robertson, British Retail Consortium director general, said, “The early Easter could be a mixed blessing. Overall, Easter is retailers’ second most important sales season, though for some it matters even more than Christmas. With personal finances under pressure and evidence that customers are cutting back on non-essentials, retailers are eager for the Easter boost. But the predicted poor weather is likely to mean a March Easter is weaker than last year’s warm and sunny April one.”

In total, nearly £280 million will be spent on Easter eggs in supermarkets and convenience stores this year. Hot cross buns remain a favourite, with sales in supermarkets and convenience stores likely to exceed £20 million in the six weeks of Easter. Sales were up ten percent in the first two weeks of the six week run-up to Easter this year compared with the same two weeks a year ago. But there are signs that shoppers are cutting back in these tough times.

Looking at the first two weeks of the six week Easter trading period, Easter egg sales grew only nine percent this year, compared with the 16% in 2007 and 17% in 2006.

But chocolate novelties (bunnies, flowers etc.) are becoming increasingly popular. Sales have grown nine percent so far this year, up on one percent growth last year. Mike Watkins, senior manager, Retailer Services, Nielsen, said, “This year it’s difficult for retailers to know how strong Easter trading will be with consumer spending being squeezed. Easter growths are considerably slower in a number of sectors compared with the first two weeks of Easter in 2007. It’s possible that any last-minute rush to buy food and indulgences will be less marked than last year when the weather was unseasonably warm.”