Following a four-day Christmas weekend, the whole of the UK will now turn its attention to bringing in the year of 2018 with style. Sainsbury’s one-hour delivery service Chop Chop will be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for the first time and on hand to help customers with any last minute emergency supplies, coming to the rescue for any unexpected guests. 

As Brits increasingly take advantage of grocery shopping being just a click away and delivered in under 60 minutes, Chop Chop has seen significant increases in demand since its launch in September 2016. Sales throughout December show customers are increasingly turning to online and one-hour delivery services like Chop Chop to provide last minute supplies throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

This year the attention will turn to New Year’s Day as customers look to dine in style while not leaving the comfort of their own home. The shift to weekend brunching has continued to grow throughout 2017 with the #brunch hashtag having amassed over 13 million pictures on Instagram this year alone. Sainsbury’s one-hour delivery service Chop Chop is expected to see significant increases in orders of key brunch ingredients. Avocados have so far seen the biggest uplift of 370% year-on-year, closely followed by smoked salmon (+ 367%). Sourdough bread is also high on the list with a sales increase of 225% year-on-year.

While champagne and bubbles may be more closely associated with New Year’s Eve, it’s gin that’s top of the list for Brits this year. The botanical spirit has seen orders of gin increase by 267% with tonic water sales also up 227% year-on-year. In fact Sainsbury’s expects to sell 30% more bottles of gin this Christmas than last. Mulled wine has also seen orders increase by a whopping 275% year-on-year. Other festive favourites have also seen huge uplifts, including mince pies (+74%).

According to Mintel’s latest research on online grocery retailing in the UK, sales are expected to reach £11.1 billion this year, up from an estimated £9.9 billion in 2016.  With New Year’s Day falling on a Monday this year, Brits will only have one day of recovering from the celebrations before most of the nation head back to work on Tuesday 2^nd January. Among the most popular search items on New Year’s Day last year, medicine, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste came out on top. Chop Chop this year will be coming to the rescue of those unexpected visitors to make sure they have everything they need to enjoy the first day of 2018.

Martin Lacey, Chop Chop Operations Manager, commented, “Living well is at the heart of everything we do for our customers. We know that people like to pull out all the stops to celebrate the New Year – that’s why we are opening Chop Chop up during the New Year’s period to enable our customers to enjoy a fuss free and memorable start to 2018.”