The early arrival of Christmas ranges in stores saw take home grocery sales in Scotland increase by 2.3% over the 12 weeks to 29 September 2024, according to the latest data from Kantar.
“Shoppers are treating themselves, with sales of mince pies up 13.5% compared to last year,” said Lesley-Ann Gray, Strategic Insight Director at Kantar. “They also appear to be planning ahead, as packs of seasonal and gifting biscuits increased by 7%.”
Additionally, stocking up for Halloween seems to be in full swing, with sweet and chocolate confectionery up 7.1% and 3.2%, respectively, in value compared to this time last year, found Kantar.
Promotions in Scotland continue to be a key driver of retailers’ growth, with 27% of sales coming from promoted products, stated the firm. This represents an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. “Overall, the percentage of sales from promotions is lower than in Great Britain, but it remains an important factor for retailers to attract more shoppers to stores in Scotland,” noted Gray.
She added: “Another strategy to attract shoppers is own label lines. While own label growth continues, its pace has also slowed. The split between brands and own label remained steady at 48% and 52%, respectively.”
