Christmas food shopping experts, when's my best time to go?

[woodenbatandball]

I need to do a normal food shop/get some Christmas bits in (nibbles/smoked salmon/croissants etc)! We're actually eating out on Christmas Day but still want some bits about the house.

Im child free most of tomorrow and Sunday morning and Christmas Eve. When would you go? I'm thinking tomorrow evening, but wondering if all the shelves will be empty? (Thinking Aldi/Sainsburys)

By a weird set of accidental occurances I once ended up in my normal smallish Morrisons on Xmas eve around 7pm, it was deserted like post apocalypse quiet. There were gaps on the shelves but so much stuff was discounted I did a normal shop for half price. Also and I'm not saying I agree with shop lifting, but had I wanted to I could have walked out without paying as the post apocalypse vibe extended to the staff who had gone home or gone mad.
I've never been back on Xmas eve night to see if it's the same every year. But I do wonder.

That was me one year in M&S on a retail park
It was like something out the walking dead, the place was empty yet fully stocked?!

I FaceTimed my dad to show him how much was reduced and he decided to come down and join me

@fivebyfivebuffy
Omg I reckon it is every year and every where. I might do a trip put on Xmas eve next week to check.

I went today and that was bad enough. Sadly I have a cafe, so might have to go back for milk on Monday or Tuesday, otherwise I don’t want to go near a supermarket for at least a week!

For anyone who might be remotely interested I opted to go to Aldi at 6pm! Shelves all fully stocked and not a soul around! Got through the till super fast too! Sainsbury's was empty too! The only thing I need to get are croissants as there seems to be a shortage haha xxx

I'm at Aldi now and there's the usual small queue of about 20 people

I’ll be heading to my local Sainsbury’s at 6am when it opens tomorrow. I always go as soon as it opens and it’s nice and quiet, getting busy by the time I leave.

I'll be heading out at 7am tomorrow for my M&S bits. Then waiting for the food shop on 24th (and if any is missing then I'll be heading out early Tuesday morning too!)

I'm doing my fresh bits at Waitrose tomorrow morning (Monday). They open at 7:30, but I'll get there a bit before. I'm not anticipating it being madly busy, but you never know. I only want fruit, milk, juice and some cereal, so shouldn't be in there long!

I went to Tesco for 6:15am and it was much busier than I expected. I'd only gone for fresh vegetables, bread, few other bits but other people had overflowing trolleys and tempers were getting frayed in the cheese aisle.

Not today! Arrived at opening time 6:00 am today, M&S. Never seen anywhere so busy, not since before the advent of online shopping anyway when people had no choice but shop in person

I only had a basket as only needed a few essentials but people barging through with trolleys, it was difficult to move. So many aggressive drivers out there this morning too! Season of goodwill, I'm not sure judging by today!!

Went as planned at 7am. Was busy but no queues to pay.

Was very disappointed with the selection. Usually there are aisles and aisles of stuff but there was about half an aisle of turkeys and everything was dated 26th. Asked someone if they put more stuff out and recieved a very curt "no".

Ended up with two small turkey breast things (we didn't want a massive crown as we are also having a nice joint of pork) but wasn't at all impressed.

I reckon it won't be as hectic this year as lots of people finished work Friday so there's the weekend, Monday and Tuesday for shopping to be spread out over. We went to Aldi yesterday at about 2pm and it was totally fine, better than a normal Sunday when it's mobbed. The only thing they never had was fresh Brussels sprouts.

I think it depends on where you live. Due to the storms here Saturday/Sunday I know friends and family who were putting off the shop until this week who would have usually gone by now.

Maybe it is just M&S, not sure how busy the other supermarkets are anyway.

Sainsbury’s at 6am was ridiculously busy this morning.

There were also dozens of online pickers with crate trolleys.

The worst aisles were fruit & veg and fresh meat. The crisps and frozen aisles were much quieter.

Morrisons at 6am this morning was lovely. Half a dozen other customers all mostly happy. No queue at the till. Worth dragging myself out of bed early for.

We've just got back from Sainsburys, having arrived there at 7am and it was fairly quiet.

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