1 in 3 Britons already stocking up on Christmas food

Oct. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Despite Christmas being over 8 weeks away, new research from www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, the UK’s leading discount website, has revealed that just over one in three Brits have already started their food shopping for the holiday season. 32% of those who took part in the study admitted to having begun their Christmas food shop; with the most popular item already bought being alcohol.

The study was conducted by MyVoucherCodes.co.uk in order to gauge how shoppers prepare for the holiday season, with 1,359 men and women aged 18 and over taking part.

Respondents to the study were asked the question, “Have you started to buy any Christmas groceries?” with one in three, 32% of respondents answering “yes.” These respondents were then asked to choose, from a multi-answer question, what groceries they had already purchased for the Christmas season. The top five results were as follows:

1) Alcohol – 57%

2) Chocolates- 42%

3) Nuts- 39%

4) Christmas Pudding- 31%

5) Savoury snacks (ie. crisps/crackers)- 28%

Those who had already purchased items for Christmas were further asked to explain why they had done so ahead of time. Whilst over a quarter, 26%, explained they had done so in order to ‘ensure they get the items they want;’ the majority of respondents, 43%, admitted they had started shopping early in order ‘to spread the cost over several months.’

Of the 43% who admitted to ‘spreading the cost;’ three quarters, 76%, explained that they had also already started shopping for gifts, for the same reason.

Furthermore, two thirds, 67%, of the total respondents to the study admitted that they thought it was ‘a good thing’ that supermarkets had already begun to stock Christmas goods; with the majority of these, 52%, explaining that stocking food early gave consumers ‘greater freedom’ as to when to begin their Christmas purchases.

Mark Pearson, chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, commented on the findings:

“We conducted this research in order to gauge just how early the British public start preparing for the Christmas holidays from a grocery perspective; given its reputation as the season of over-indulgence, to say the least!

“What was most interesting about the findings was that the main reason for beginning purchases early for many was the desire to spread the cost of Christmas over a longer period. Whilst many consider purchasing presents early for the same reason, it now appears that this sort planning has now translated into grocery; and is inarguably an excellent idea for anyone fearing the financial ‘blow’ that Christmas can bring.”

He concluded,

“Spreading the coast over several months is a brilliant way of ensuring that Christmas doesn’t take too much of a chunk out of your back account. Planning ahead is key to staying on top of things financially, and will make sure that you and your family are able to truly indulge when the season comes around.”

ENDS

LINK: http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk

Editor’s Notes

Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 29, his personal worth is more than £30 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London.

MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £481m in the last year

Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £28m in 2008 to £52m in 2009.

MyVoucherCodes is the UK’s most popular discount site