Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

'Brits opting for Big Night In more than ever'

'Brits opting for Big Night In more than ever'
iStock image
Getty Images/iStockphoto

Brits are opting for a ‘Big Night In’ more than ever as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, a recent report has claimed.

According to retail data experts Reapp, crisp sales reached a new year-to-date high after the arrival of two new Star Wars series- Star Wars: Vision and Star Wars: Young Jedi that debuted on streaming service Disney+ on May 4.


The following day (5th) saw the biggest sales volumes of the year for crisps with over 430,000 units sold, data from retail experts Reapp reveals. Crisp sales have grown month on month since the start of the year, suggesting Brits are ditching the cinema and nights out to stock up on their favourite snacks to enjoy TV and films from the comfort of their sofas.

More recently in June, one of the highest days for sales of crisps came on the day of the first ever Manchester derby FA Cup Final. Manchester City’s 2-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United saw an influx of nearly 350,000 units of crisps sold across major supermarkets (June 3rd).

It was April which saw the highest month in crisps sales – with more than 7.5 million units of crisps sold – as the rocketing cost of the pub trip has forced fans into their living rooms for key televised sporting events such as the Grand National and the FA Cup knockout fixtures.

May saw sweets sales soar up to 18 per cent on April from 1.9 million units to over 2.3 million. Sales of sugary treats peaked at over 680,000 units on May 26, the day schools across the country broke up for half-term.

Football fans stocked up on over 58,000 units of beer for the last day of the English Premier League on Saturday May 27th which saw a nail-biting relegation battle between Leeds, Leicester and Everton.

The Champions League Final (June 10th) which saw Man City complete a historic treble winning season was one of the highest days for beer sales in the month (58,600 units sold across different beer brands).

More and more Brits spent one of the hottest weekends in June (16th – 17th) at home enjoying cold beers in the garden as units nearly reached 70,000 sold with temperatures nearly hitting 30ᵒC.

Man United and Newcastle fans boosted beer sales in February when they faced each other in the Carabao Cup final. Sales volumes reach 8% higher on the 26th than a regular Sunday in February, with more than 14,000 units sold that day.

Reapp commercial director James Lamplugh comments, “While the Big Night In has always been popular amongst Brits, it’s fascinating in this instance to see Jedi power’s effect on consumer demand.

“We have seen factors such as the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis accelerate this trend and we expect to see sales in this category maintain growth as shoppers’ try to reduce the impact of rising food costs on their lives.”

More for you

Christopher Head OBE demands fair treatment in Horizon scandal redress process

(Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Christopher Head OBE demands fair treatment in Horizon scandal redress process

One of the victims of the UK’s infamous Post Office Horizon scandal, Christopher Head OBE, has called on the government to urgently address issues with the redress schemes set up to compensate those affected.

In a letter dated today (7), Head has called on to Minister Gareth Thomas and Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds to take concrete corrective actions at the earliest, detailing the "unfairness" and inconsistencies plaguing the schemes administered by the Post Office and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

Keep ReadingShow less
​Broken door

Broken door of Zen Vape and Smoke Supplies’ new premises in the Houston Industrial Estate, in Livingston, West Lothian

Photo: Facebook/Zen Vape And Smoke Supplies

West Lothian retailer offers cash reward after break-in delays opening of new store

A break-in at Zen Vape and Smoke Supplies’ new premises in the Houston Industrial Estate, in Livingston, West Lothian, has delayed the store’s grand opening, scheduled for tomorrow (8 January).

The incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve, caused extensive damage to the store’s entrance, locking the business out of the property and halting progress on the site.

Keep ReadingShow less
PC John Sharp with the Thorne Shop Watch poster

PC John Sharp with the Thorne Shop Watch poster which is given for businesses to display once they have signed up to the scheme

Photo: South Yorkshire Police

Thorne Shop Watch scheme tackles retail crime with success

A police-led initiative to combat retail crime in Thorne is yielding positive results, with over 15 shops now actively sharing intelligence about prolific offenders.

The Shop Watch scheme, launched in September 2024 by Doncaster East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), has created a robust network of retailers committed to tackling theft and criminal activity in the town.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gordon's Pink Mix It Up

‘Zebra striping’ and ‘one night only’: Socialising trends for 2025

Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker, Don Julio Tequila and Guinness, has unveiled its annual global trends report which reveals how and why consumers will socialise over the next year.

Based on AI analysis of over 160 million online conversations across the world, Distilled 2025 offers detailed insights into what is driving discussions globally and the current trends shaping consumer decision-making.

Keep ReadingShow less
Footfall woes follow retail into the new year – Bira
Photo: iStock

Footfall woes follow retail into the new year – Bira

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has warned that disappointing footfall figures for December show mounting pressures on independent retailers, with concerning implications for 2025 as business costs continue to rise.

The latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor report revealed decreases across most retail locations:

  • Total UK retail footfall decreased by 2.2% (YoY)
  • High Street footfall decreased by 2.7% (YoY)
  • Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 3.3% (YoY)
  • Retail Park footfall remained flat at 0.0% (YoY)

"These figures paint a worrying picture of the challenges facing independent retailers," said Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent retailers of all sizes across the UK. "The decline in footfall during the crucial Christmas trading period is particularly concerning, as this is typically when retailers need to generate the revenue that will see them through the quieter months ahead."

Keep ReadingShow less