Manufacturing & Supply Chain

March was the busiest month for grocery sales ever recorded.

According to Kantar, over the 12 weeks to March 22nd, sales in the State’s grocery retailers rose by 10.1 per cent with growth in the four weeks to March 22nd of 27 per cent. Grocery sales reached €2.8 billion over the course of the 12 week period, €250 million up on the same period last year.

The average household spent an additional €122 on groceries during the four weeks to March 22nd as shoppers stockpiled some goods such as personal hygiene products and non-perishable foods.

“Sales of hand soap rose by 300 per cent and household cleaners were up by 170 per cent in the last four weeks of the period,” according to David Berry, Kantar’s managing director. “Facial tissues and loo roll were also in demand, with sales up by 140 per cent and 86 per cent respectively,” he said.

Food items with a long shelf life saw sales increase significantly in the period. Sales of frozen, tinnes and non-perishable foods rose 32 per cent, for example. But there was also increased demand for fresh food, a category which saw sales grow by 16 per cent over the four week period.

“While we’d expect sales to remain strong in the coming weeks and months, there will likely be a rebalancing of sales of fresh and non-perishable items as shoppers with full freezers and cupboards replenish fresh supplies,” Mr Berry said.

“Ireland has a really strong supply chain,” explained Jean McCabe, of Retail Excellence Ireland. “Tesco have the largest distribution centre in Europe (which) is based in Dublin,” she added saying Ireland was in a good position to cope with the increased demand for groceries.