Shoppers across the UK are being urged to time their Christmas Eve supermarket trips strategically to secure the best last-minute festive food bargains. A retail expert has revealed the precise 'golden hours' when major chains slap yellow sticker discounts on seasonal items.
The Hunt for Festive Reductions
Zoe Morris, from VoucherCodes.co.uk, has compiled a guide to the key markdown times at leading supermarkets including Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons. These 'golden hours' are when stores typically reduce the price of products with short shelf lives, such as items needing to be sold by Christmas Day.
The advice comes as some shop workers share insights into the process. One retail assistant commented online, "Spare a thought for the poor shop assistants who have to deal with the bargain hunters whilst trying to reduce the items." Another explained their store's proactive approach: "We start reducing items that need to be sold by Christmas Eve several days beforehand... We put a small reduction in price on the items and before you know it they are all gone. It stops a lot of disagreements."
Supermarket-Specific 'Golden Hours'
The discount patterns vary significantly between retailers. Here is the detailed breakdown for Christmas Eve:
Lidl & Aldi
Lidl operates two waves of markdowns. The first happens as stores open at 8am, with a second round occurring in the evening before the typical 6pm closing time. Aldi follows a very similar two-wave pattern, with reductions also starting around 8am and a final round in the late evening.
Sainsbury's & Morrisons
At Sainsbury's, yellow stickers usually appear around 2pm and again at 6pm. Morrisons also implements reductions twice daily, with the first batch as soon as doors open and a second in the evening.
Asda & Tesco
These giants use a three-tier system. Asda conducts markdowns in the morning, again at midday, and a final round at approximately 7pm. Tesco's three discount waves are scheduled for around 10am, 2pm, and 7pm.
Planning Your Bargain Hunt
Understanding these schedules can help savvy shoppers plan their final festive food shop. The goal is to find heavily discounted party food, desserts, vegetables, and other perishable items that stores need to clear before closing for the holiday.
While the promise of a bargain is enticing, the revelations from shop staff highlight the balancing act stores face. By staggering reductions in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, they aim to manage stock levels and customer demand efficiently, avoiding the last-minute rush and potential disputes over pricing.
For those hoping to save money during the expensive festive period, aligning your shop with these 'golden hours' could be the key to a cheaper Christmas celebration.
