With the summer holidays around the corner, supermarket aisles are about to get a lot busier. However, a retail expert has revealed the exact days and times that shoppers should go to the store this summer to avoid the chaos. Richard Price, supermarket shopping expert at Britsuperstore, has analysed in-store patterns and shared the best and worst times to shop during the summer break.
He has revealed that Tuesdays to Thursdays, 7-9am, are the quietest windows. Sunday's, despite having the reputation of being busy, are also surprisingly calm. Mr Price said that the "high-risk times" to avoid during the school holidays include midday to early afternoon as this is prime time for families heading out to shop after a slow summer morning. "Expect queues, buggies, and kids in tow, especially in supermarkets near parks, leisure centres, or popular day-out spots," he says.
Late afternoons - 3-6pm - are also a no-go zone. The expert says that with no school run, this time becomes a key window for after-nap or post-activity shopping.
Friday evenings and weekends are also still peak times for big shops and BBQ/pre-weekend stock-ups.
Mr Price warns Brits to remain aware of Summer bank holidays, like late August, as opening hours are often reduced. On these days, supermarket aisles can be packed, with more people shopping ahead of family events or mini-breaks. The Saturday and Sunday before a bank holiday Monday are especially busy.
"Best Times" to shop in July and August- Monday 7-9am
- Tuesday 7-9am or 7-9pm
- Wednesday 7-9am or 7-9pm
- Thursday 7-9am or 7-9pm
- Friday Avoid after 3pm
- Saturday Avoid - busy most of the day
- Sunday Late afternoon (3-5pm)
Mr Price says: "During the school holidays, the usual rhythm of supermarket shopping changes significantly. Without the structure of school drop-offs and work routines, footfall becomes more unpredictable and often increases in volume.
"Families are more likely to shop together, which can slow down the overall pace in-store, while better weather and spontaneous days out mean more last-minute purchases. Planning your food shop around these shifting patterns, rather than sticking to your usual schedule, can help avoid queues, reduce stress, and even lead to fresher stock and better availability."
