Supermarkers still likely to be busy?

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

Do you think supermarkets will be busy as usual now? I am feeling nervous about going (in a Tier 4 area). I was thinking of going as soon as they open but do you think everyone will be also there at 6am first thing too? Quite an anxious person so trying to work out when would be the best time to go!

I went to a retail park this afternoon for a few Xmas presents and there was easily 100 people in the m and s food queue. We are tier 3. Not been anywhere else so thats my only observation!

Yes - people will still be stocking up for Christmas as if the food shops will be closed for a month!

I think they will be even busier in tier 4 as people who had been relying on non essential shops to be open to do some last minute Christmas shopping will be shopping in supermarkets instead.

I've got fresh delivery (hopefully) on Wednesday from non supermarket source: I won't be going near a supermarket as expect they'll be rammed

Hmmm. What's the easiest way of getting covid in a supermarket?
Yes I'm trying to avoid going but I will still have to go this week.
Could you still easily get it even with less people in shop and washing hands for longer and sanitizing more..

Any farm shops around? Often fresher veg and much quieter

I've been wondering the same,Tier 4 here too. Planning to go at 6am tomorrow and tbh if it's a nightmare I'm going to turn round and come home and try again at 11pm. If it's a total shitshow all week I'm seriously considering trying to manage with stuff from the little Tesco instead. Sadly we don't have any nice little independent shops close by.

I find Tesco the worst but its closest to me and I went at 8pm last night for 5 things.
It was busy. But I was quick ish and tried to distance myself.

Mainly went for bin bags/ toilet roll and most were sold out. .. stupid people
Also coudnt believe how many families and couples were shopping together.
Go alone!!!

They take up so much space.

Larger Tesco stores open at 00.01 tonight. Been dead at my local during the night. Come 6am the shop is full

I'm heading to Lidl for 7am opening tomorrow, I'm hoping it isn't too busy. If it is or I don't get everything I'll try again Tuesday!

I am a supermarket manager, Mon-Wed is going to be massively busy. Head office have predicted the next 3 days to be busiest of the year (always the same every year, these 3 days always busy). It's busiest for us first thing after opening, I guess everyone thinks they will go early to miss the queues/busier times but they make it really busy instead .
Although our deliveries come in overnight so all stock is out before opening so product availability is best best first thing, I'd think most supermarkets would be the same

Good Luck

So Christmas Eve afternoon might be ok?
But annoying to go then.

Very busy because all those people that were going elsewhere for up to 5 days will have to get food in to stay at home

It is always crazy busy at this time of year. I am expecting more people to be stocking up after the news about France and Belgium earlier.

They’re always rammed this time of year. I’d go very early (6am) or late evening. Downside of the latter is they might not have re-stocked the shelves.

We’ve got a delivery on Tuesday and will just top up with stuff from the local shops.

Our farm shop over the road has got 1000 people on their books coming on Wednesday and Thursday to pick up meat and veg orders. It's literally 5m x 5m shop!

I went to Morrison's this morning at 9am and it was quiet. But god knows what they'll be like the rest of the week. I just hope I got enough stuff in to see us through!

tier 4 here and local m&s foothill were queuing all around the retail park...absolutely hideous

i work in a store nearby and we watched the queue hardly moving at some point. over a hundred people easily. oh, and lots of road rage in the car park. lovely

*foodhall!!!

11am Christmas Eve. Done it the last two years.
Lots of fresh food - fruit, veg, dairy, chilled, bakery.
Forget things like Christmas cake, puddings, other treats.

Probably later about 10, 11 o'clock at night for not so many people, most do seem to like to go in the morning or after work. I'm hoping DH will want to go to a late night stroll to M&S one late evening to pick up some nice things.

I managed to get a Tesco click and collect today for Tuesday - they had availability up to Christmas Eve (tier 4, London).

M &S is nice but is it worth the risk.
Do the people waiting in the long queues not think they will then develop symptoms in 5 days time or whatever...

Friend in Tier 4 area posted on Facebook that supermarket was rammed and people were piling trolleys high, she only wanted milk so went to a smaller shop. She felt it was unsafe to be honest.

I agree it is because people were going elsewhere and had no Christmas food in. I have spoken to 3 friends today whose families are in Tier 4 and can’t come, they have far too much food.