Talking Retail Grocery and product news for independent retailers
Stores up and down the country are braced for a big demand for alcohol and snacks as households stock up for the game.
Amish Shingadia, who runs Londis Caterways & Post Office in Horsham, Sussex, is letting staff wear England shirts, as well as decorating the shop with bunting.
Like most, he expects drinks sales to see the biggest boost and he is hoping for an England win for more than one reason.
He said: “If they get through to the final, we will be hoping for good weekend weather so we can make extra sales on barbecues.”
Harry Goraya, owner of the Nisa Local in Northfleet, Kent, is another hoping England make the final as it would be “very, very, good for business”.
During big matches, Goraya has long run “happy hour at half-time” promotions, with ‘two for one’ offers and free glasses with some beers.
But he admits that fewer visits from reps during the pandemic has meant such promotions have become more limited.
He said: “As much as you do try to run things online, it does help when we get support from the reps.
“Some of them are really good, even being in the store when we are running promotions. We’ve missed that, so it will be good to have them back.”
Onkar Sandhu, owner of Sandhu Stores in Tamworth, Staffordshire, has also decorated his shop and expects a sales uplift of around 30%, again mainly down to beer, wine, spirits and snacks.
Jack Matthews, proprietor at Bradley’s of Quorn, Leicestershire, is offering a free car flag with every multi-pack beer purchase, as well as running a special £3.50 burgers and beers deal.
