TACKLING a busy supermarket can be a stressful experience to deal with, especially for those who want to get the job done and dusted.
Predicting when a shop will be quiet or busy is almost impossible, but there are specific periods when shoppers can expect to see more or less other customers.
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There are also the “golden times” when supermarkets replenish their reduced items so shoppers can grab bargains for as little as 10p.
Ashleigh Tosh, fromMuscleFood.com, said: “The idea of a jam packed supermarket, where aisles are blocked and people are queuing around the entire store to get to the till is an absolute nightmare.
“That’s why we wanted to create a clear and easy-to-follow timesheet to help people be aware of when they can expect to see fewer shoppers as well as the chaotic no-go times.
“Among these are the golden times, where shoppers may get more than they bargained for by being able to pick up tasty treats such as cakes, bread and sandwiches for only 10 pence.”
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Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - evenings
Weekday evenings are often some of the best times to head to the shops as it’ll be after the school run and rush hour shoppers have filled up their trolleys and left.
There’s also a higher chance of reduced items being available.
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Sunday - late afternoon:
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Around 3pm on a Sunday, shops slowly begin to close up and people rush to get out of the door.
This is also one of the prime times to get reduced items. Keep a listen out for announcements as they often let people know which items they have available for as little as 10 or 20p.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - early morning:
Plenty of shoppers like to do their big food shop on Monday or Friday as it’s typically the “start” or “end” of the week.
Getting to stores when the doors first open also increases the chance of fewer shoppers and there will be a greater amount of items available as the night staff would’ve replenished the stock.
Worst
Monday - lunchtime:
A lot of shoppers like to get their shopping completed and out of the way, which is why there tends to be a higher number of people in stores around Monday midday.
It’s made even worse on the first Monday after pay day weekend.
Weekdays - late afternoon:
Late afternoon on weekdays will have the usual shoppers, as well as parents and school kids all at once.
It’s equally as bad around 5pm to 6pm when many will be doing their food shop after work.
Saturday - morning and midday:
Saturday is one of the worst days to head to the supermarket as it’s likely to be full of customers for most of the day. The number of shoppers rises from morning to midday and stays high until the 4pm mark.
Friday - evening:
While other weekday evenings are great times to shop as there will be fewer customers, Friday is the complete opposite. People like to head to the shops on Friday evening to stock up for the weekend so they don’t have to venture out again.
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Sunday - midday:
Some shoppers have a last-minute panic so they head to the shops to stock up before Sunday closing hours means they can’t visit again until Monday morning. The influx of customers arrives around midday making lunchtime one of the busiest times of the week.
'Perishable items like baked goods or produce might be marked down during this time. 'Similar to early mornings, late evenings before the store closes can be an opportune time to find discounts on perishable items. Many stores mark down items nearing their expiration date to avoid waste.
Wednesday is the best day of the week to go grocery shopping because stores are usually less crowded mid-week. For the freshest items, time your shop for store opening or closing. This increases the likelihood that bakery, deli, and other produce items were recently restocked.
The best way to make your shopping list super-effective is by writing a meal plan for the week/month. That way you can work out what you're going to eat every day, incorporating the ingredients you already have.
The best bet is to get to the market early, as soon as it opens, or late, right before it closes. You'll zip through the aisles and check out with practically no one to slow you down. During the week, avoid visiting between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., when most people get off work and head to the store.
If you want to maximize the chances of paying low prices at the grocery store, shopping mid-week may be the way to go. Specifically, many experts advise shopping on Wednesday and Thursday.
“A weekday morning, especially mid-week like Wednesday, is a great time to shop at Walmart,” said Melissa Cid, consumer savings expert for MySavings.com. “You're more likely to encounter a less busy store, stocked shelves and fresh produce and meats.
The results show that the second half of the day – the afternoon and evening hours – is the most popular time for consumers in the U.S., UK, and Germany to shop online.
According to Drive Research, 59% of consumers surveyed do their grocery shopping Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Therefore, waiting until the end of the week or going on the weekend could mean big crowds and less selection.
Each number corresponds to a specific food group that you'll purchase for easy, balanced meals every week. Following Coleman's method, you'd buy five different vegetables, four different fruits, three different proteins, two different sauces or spreads, and one grain—plus a special treat for yourself.
Make a List: Once you know the items you need to make your meals, you can begin to make your full grocery list of all the items you need. If you usually go to the same grocery and know where most items are located within that store, try to organize your list by the aisle each item can be found in.
Wednesday or Thursday. Midweek days like Wednesday or Thursday can be good for shopping because many stores release new deals and discounts around this time.
Tuesday. Some stores have special deals and discounts that start on Tuesday. ...
January and February are typically considered the slowest months for retail as consumers recover from holiday spending and focus on post-holiday savings.
According to a 2022 survey, in which U.S. consumers who shopped at a convenience store at least once a month were asked at what time of day they usually shop at convenience stores, the most popular time of day was between 4 p.m. and 6:59 p.m., with 37 percent of respondents.
Dairy goods (82%), fresh produce (80%), and snack foods (76%) are among the top grocery items people purchase. 74% of grocery shopping still happens in physical stores. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:59 p.m. is the most popular time to go grocery shopping.
Sunday also lost its rank as the busiest grocery shopping day of the week. Instead, Saturday was the top-ranked shopping day for five of the 12 weeks since stay-at-home orders began, while Friday and Sunday each had the most spend for four of these weeks.
“Shopping on Wednesday gives you plenty of time to plan meals for the rest of the week based on the items that you find on sale,” says Woody. “This can help you save money by creating meals around discounted items and avoid overspending on unplanned purchases.”
Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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