To do a Christmas food shop in person on 23rd?

We have a Sainsbury's delivery booked for tomorrow night, but you can bet your sweet life something will be missing or substituted. In that case, DH will pop up to the superstore up the road and buy it in-store. We don't drive or have access to a car, (hence the delivery) so the only travel costs incurred are in shoe leather. It's always quiet and there's plenty of stock, though having said that, Christmas dinner is always veggie as DH doesn't eat meat or fish. If I want a bit of chicken, there are plenty of portions on the shelves - but you can probably get a whole bird if you've more to feed.

Last time I did this at Asda it was beyond heaving !

Morrisons by me still have collection slots for the 23 I got one yesterday just praying they have it all or most of it in stock. Grabbing the meat at the weekend and already have frozen deserts etc

I normally get my turkey half price on Christmas Eve! I think you’ll be fine-the shops are normally well stocked with the shelves groaning with all the Christmas tat and food. My dh used to worry when we first got together but now he’s used to me coming home with a £70 turkey bought for £35.

I don't think stock will be the issue, but the crowds can make it stressful.
I've no option this year but to do my final shop about 8am on Xmas Eve, as I'm on nights this week (finish at 7.30 on Xmas Eve then off for a week)
I'm sticking to a supermarket I know well, have a minimal list as I've already bought everything I possibly could ahead of time, and intend to put my headphones on and cruise along the wider central aisles darting into the narrow ones to collect my items. If I need to queue, well I have my kindle.
This time of year that old chest freezer that I keep out in the garage is a lifesaver.

One thing that annoyed me with customers at Christmas was they moaned about the dates on the bread.

If the bakers such as Hovis, Warburtons have 5-6 days on their bread, it will be the same throughout the year. They are not going to increase it by 1-2 days.

The theory can be applied to all fresh and short life foods.

It'll be fine, supermarkets don't run out of things or have bare shelves the way they used to

Don't go early doors would be my tip as everyone does the same
I might do one trip today or tomorrow and get everything except the fresh stuff (although, with less than a week to go, some of the dates are now after Cmas Day) and then go on the afternoon of 23rd. We always do our shop on 23rd as then we have 24th to pick up the things I've forgotten!

Sorry yes I know - I was being silly - we all know the meat we only eat once a year does not have to be dry and it’s a myth 🙊🤣 My main point was Monday is working day for many. Not everyone will be queuing up for their (moist) turkey (and bullet like sprouts - awaits recipe guide 🙊)

Leave it until Christmas Eve, the shops are deserted. And there’s always loads of food, some of which will be reduced.

I always do it and never had an issue, though I do order my meat from the butchers just incase and find it better quality but you will be fine for a chicken I'm sure.

I used to go at 9/10pm on the 23rd for my shop.

Just to remind anyone in England and Wales that supermarkets can only open for 6 hours on Sunday 22/12. Either 10-4 or 11-5.

Get irate customers who shop because of the date, not the day.

OMG the worst one is when 23/12 falls on Sunday and that awful. Fortunately we missed this year due to leap year.

I do this all the time and it’s fine. People scare monger about it a bit!

I've got 17 for Xmas day and as I'm away this weekend will be shopping on Xmas eve. Will be fine. Get there as early as you can - the shelves will be heaving x

It’ll be fine. So much panic over nothing, unless you live in the back of beyond!

Waitrose in my area has click and collect slots available at some stores if you're really worried. However I used to work in grocery retail and I can assure you that the stores are planning for lots of in person shopping on the 23rd ! Get there early so it's not too busy and you'll be fine

Me too! I'm sure you'll be fine OP 😊

I did it in early labour once on the 22nd. It was fine. I'm sure the 23rd can't be much different.

In my experience the 6am visits are worse than the afternoon. Many a year M&S has been pandemonium even at that time as people will go before work

But saying that I would much rather that than relying on an online delivery for a Christmas shop that close to the day. Plus you can check the dates when you go yourself to avoid having to go out again after Christmas

Never had an issue getting anything on the 23rd/24th regardless what time of day it is

This will work. It's what I do but on the 24th! Always fresh turkeys etc there.

Turkey is only dry if you don't cook it in a bag or under tightly wrapped foil for the whole duration of cooking. Putting stuffing in the bird deffo dries it out.

DM puts turkey crown in a roasting bag, puts lemon and onion cut in half in the hollows underneath and then streaky bacon on the big breast section.

I say out of the 17 Christmases I worked in the supermarket, we probably ran out of turkeys 13 of them. 2020 and 2021 were years we had loads of turkeys left - for obvious reasons.

As most of the turkeys were dated BD, the manager in store at time of closing on XE gathered up all the turkeys and put them in the freezer in the back. After Christmas we were told to help ourselves to a turkey or turkey crown. HQ put a communication saying any leftover turkeys are for colleagues to take home free. As a thank you for working through the pandemic.

My parents and I have a repeat of Christmas Day dinner on Easter Sunday and its a tradition we have followed for many years.

I do online for snacks, nibbles etc and fresh Christmas Eve 🙈😅. It's always fine! :)

I will be going on the 23rd , but just for fruit , veg , salads etc . Tend to go as early as possible, but the problem with that in my closest large supermarket is that they haven’t restocked fruit and veg from the night before completely, so I might go a bit later this year . If I go further into town then getting out of the car park can take an hour at any time during Christmas week though which I won’t be doing .