Launching on Thursday 9th July, the Barnsley store will become the newest addition to the growing stand-alone George estate, following the success of previous openings which have seen customers respond positively to the enhanced shopping experience, expanded product ranges and modern store environment.

Situated at Cortonwood Retail Park, the newly transformed store will offer a dedicated destination for fashion and home shoppers, bringing together an extensive range of George clothing for women, men and children alongside an expanded George Home offer featuring bedding, bath, dining and home accessories.

Customers will also be able to shop the latest seasonal collections, including Stacey Solomon’s latest George Home range and selected collections from Yasmin Le Bon’s George fashion edit.

Designed to make shopping easier and more inspiring, the new-format store will feature a dedicated character shop for families, upgraded fitting rooms, additional self-service tills and a streamlined parcel collection service.

The investment forms part of Asda’s ongoing commitment to growing the George brand and creating modern retail spaces that showcase its fashion and home offering while delivering a more convenient experience for customers.

George Vice President Karl Doyle, said: “We’re excited to bring our latest stand-alone George store concept to South Yorkshire and give local customers an even better way to shop our fashion and home collections.

This investment in Barnsley reflects our commitment to continuing to grow the George brand and enhancing the experience we offer customers. We’ve created a modern shopping destination that brings together our best fashion and home ranges in one place, and we look forward to welcoming shoppers through the doors in July.”

To allow for the transformation, the existing store will close on Sunday 28th June before reopening on Thursday 9th July.

To celebrate the launch, the first 500 customers who spend £5 or more in-store from 9am on opening day will receive a golden ticket, offering the chance to win between £5 and £500 to spend in-store. The event will also feature a live DJ and a special appearance from award winning Barnsley-born radio personality Stephanie Hirst.

Celebrations will continue on Saturday 11th July with a special launch event from 10am, giving customers the opportunity to take part in a high-energy cyclone challenge for the chance to win George gift vouchers and other prizes.

The Barnsley opening is the sixth store Asda Living store in the UK to be reimagined as a George standalone store and marks the latest milestone in Asda’s plans to strengthen the George brand and create exciting new shopping destinations for customers across the country.

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By Tim Deeker-Harris, Vice President at Proxima

Anyone for splitting the G? The Guinness shortages of 2024 showed how a viral social media trend can disrupt global supply chains almost overnight. More recently, trends such as the Greek yoghurt and Biscoff hack demonstrated how demand can spike within hours and continue for weeks.

The challenge for businesses is that social media moves much faster than supply chains. While trends can emerge overnight, sourcing, manufacturing and logistics decisions are often made months in advance. Many retailers, for example, lock in Christmas forecasting and supplier commitments up to nine months ahead.

This creates significant pressure for businesses trying to determine whether demand is a short-lived viral moment or a longer-term consumer shift. Get it wrong and businesses risk shortages, excess stock, margin erosion and reputational damage – particularly in low-margin sectors where forecasting errors are costly.

Businesses also face structural constraints. Most supply chains are designed around predictable demand patterns, with only limited flexibility built in. Companies can only move as fast as their suppliers, manufacturers and logistics networks allow.

One of the most common mistakes businesses make when reacting to viral demand is chasing volume too aggressively. This can lead to over-ordering, inflated procurement costs, rushed supplier switches and compromised product quality. In many cases, businesses also fail to communicate clearly with customers around availability and lead times.

Common mistakes businesses should avoid when responding to viral demand include:

• Over-ordering to chase the trend – leaving businesses exposed to excess stock once demand inevitably drops.
• Compromising on product quality or supplier standards – particularly damaging for brands positioning themselves as premium over the long term.
• Switching suppliers too quickly – which can create compliance, consistency and reputational risks.
• Ignoring margin discipline – with expedited logistics and short-term buying decisions quickly eroding profitability.
• Poor customer communication – failing to manage expectations around stock availability, delays or substitutions.

Instead, procurement teams should focus on protecting core supply, maintaining cost discipline and using phased supplier commitments where possible. Businesses that perform well during demand spikes typically rely on close collaboration between procurement, sales and marketing teams, allowing them to adapt forecasts quickly as trends emerge.

More advanced organisations are increasingly using social listening and consumer data to identify trends earlier and respond faster. However, resilience ultimately depends on supply chain flexibility. Dual sourcing strategies, contingency logistics options and maintaining appropriate safety stock can all help businesses respond more effectively to sudden shifts in demand.

Social media trends are now acting as a real-time stress test for supply chains. Businesses that can respond quickly without sacrificing cost control or quality will be best positioned to turn viral demand into long-term commercial opportunity.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock, published by BongkarnGraphic. Supplied by Proxima.

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SPAR UK has reached a landmark £5 million fundraising total for Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, marking a significant milestone made possible by the tireless efforts of store colleagues, customers and suppliers across the country who have gone above and beyond for nearly a decade to support the cause.

From in-store collections and bake sales to fundraising activities and a range of own label products donating a percentage of every sale, SPAR UK’s teams have driven this significant achievement in its national partnership with the charity since it first launched in 2017.

Since the partnership began, SPAR UK colleagues and customers have helped to make a big difference to those living with a terminal illness and their families by fundraising for Marie Curie’s flagship fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal, which encourages people to support the charity by donating and wearing a daffodil pin each Spring, and through initiatives such as the Blooming Great Tea Party and Go Yellow.

SPAR UK stores have also supported fundraising through own label products, with a percentage donation to Marie Curie, from fresh cut daffodils to limited-edition sandwiches.

The passion behind SPAR UK’s fundraising is best illustrated through the people driving it. Ethan Murphy from James Hall & Co Ltd’s SPAR Brunshaw Road in Burnley took on the London Marathon this year in memory of his grandmother Karen. Inspired by the care Marie Curie nurses provided his family after Karen was diagnosed with a brain tumour, Ethan raised £12,000 for the charity with his mum Victoria and uncles Timothy and Adam.

That same spirit runs through SPAR Scotland, where Karen and Billy Conway, married for 20 years with a combined 65 years of service at SPAR, became key figures behind CJ Lang’s Marie Curie efforts, taking on everything from back-to-back Ben Nevis climbs to bake-offs and Wear It Yellow days.

Director of Logistics Del Phillips has also taken personal commitment to another level. Across numerous events, Del has run over 220 miles, clocked more than 75 hours on his feet, completed nearly 10,000 press-ups and over 1,000 pull-ups, all in aid of Marie Curie. Having crossed the finish line at the London Marathon in 2026, his total fundraising now stands at over £57,000.

In Northern Ireland, Henderson Group colleagues have made SPAR NI’s red stetsons a familiar sight at the Balmoral Show, whilst stores and communities have gone further still through bake sales, spin-a-thons, dress-up days and more – raising over £1 million for Marie Curie since the partnership began, including over £175,000 last year alone.

As the most recent RDC (regional distribution centre) to join the Marie Curie partnership, A.F. Blakemore has made a huge impact in just two years, raising over £550,000 across its SPAR stores, logistics and central functions.

Highlights included SPAR Amlwch, whose team recently completed a 26-mile walk along the Anglesey coastline raising £1,414, alongside A.F. Blakemore’s London Marathon runners – Chloe Taylor Green, Julian Taylor Green and Andy Coleman who raised almost £9,000.

A.F. Blakemore’s top fundraising stores for this year also went above and beyond, with SPAR Droitwich, SPAR Walsall Manor Hospital and SPAR Winthorpe Avenue raising over £27,000 through a wide range of community-driven activities that truly reflect how SPAR nurtures its neighbourhoods.

The £5 million raised is enough to fund over 217,000 hours of Marie Curie nursing care at home or almost 549 days of care in a Marie Curie Hospice, a direct result of the passion and commitment shown by SPAR UK’s teams in communities across the UK.

Marie Curie supports people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, and advanced cancer.

Ian Taylor, Retail and Brand Development Director at SPAR UK, said: “We’re immensely proud of all of our colleagues, customers and suppliers who’ve helped us to reach this incredible fundraising milestone for our charity partner, Marie Curie. This achievement is a testament to the dedication shown by SPAR UK teams each day, it is their hard work that has helped us achieve this success.

We’re passionate about supporting good causes and are committed to giving back to communities in which our stores serve. The dedication shown to supporting Marie Curie since our partnership began in 2017 has been exceptional and has made a big difference to the lives of those needing end of life care.”

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive at Marie Curie, said: “On behalf of everyone at Marie Curie, we want to thank every SPAR UK colleague, customer and suppliers for their support over the last 9 years.

Currently, almost one in three people die without the care and support they need at the end of life. The funds raised by SPAR UK are vital in helping to change that, with all funds raised through the partnership helping Marie Curie Nurses and healthcare professionals to continue to provide expert care and support for more people at the end of life, and their loved ones, across the UK.

We are extremely grateful for SPAR UK’s continued fundraising efforts and their help in supporting us with our mission to close the gap in end of life care.”

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Brent Cross is a landmark for London at a pivotal location with over 30 million cars passing and over 11 million visitors each year. The proposed façade work is designed to deliver a contemporary, high-impact frontage to reflect the scale of transformation, and signals Brent Cross’s future direction. It will:

• Create a cleaner, more cohesive and recognisable frontage
• Introduce new, integrated signage aligned with Brent Cross’s refreshed brand
• Enhance visibility and arrival experience, day and night
• Reinforce its position as a leading London retail, leisure and community destination

The design has been developed with a specialist team known for delivering high-profile projects across global cities, ensuring Brent Cross remains distinctive and competitive on a global stage. Hammerson is targeting delivery later in 2026 to coincide with the 50^th anniversary, celebrating Brent Cross’s heritage while clearly signalling its future.

Hammerson continues to work with the London Borough of Barnet on its ongoing investment plans, ensuring important alignment with the borough’s wider regeneration goals for the area. Hammerson will now engage with stakeholders, local partners and the community as part of the planning process.

Harry Badham, Chief Development Officer at Hammerson, said: “Brent Cross has always set the standard for retail destinations in the UK. It’s a London original, and as we mark its 50^th anniversary we’re focused on ensuring it remains relevant and successful for decades to come. This new façade is a highly visible statement of that ambition — building on the significant investment we’ve already made to create a modern, dynamic destination for customers and brands alike.”

Long-term investment, long-term commitment

The planned façade forms part of Hammerson’s broader strategy to invest in and grow its flagship destinations. Having owned and managed Brent Cross since its inception and completion in 1976, Hammerson’s full acquisition in 2025 has unlocked further investment, enabling an ambitious and accelerated programme of improvements.

Over the past five years, Brent Cross has benefited from over £20m of investment, transforming its offer to meet evolving customer expectations and attract leading global brands. This includes a comprehensively upgraded internal environment and customer experience as well as major brand investments.

New food, leisure and entertainment experiences have also been added, including TeamSport with go-karting and bowling which opened last month. It follows the launch of District last year, a vibrant destination in its own right for independent and international street food concepts.

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Anchored in Disney’s best-in-class consumer products business, the Silverstone takeover experience brings fans a first-of-its-kind moment in the UK, where limited edition retail, industry-leading live performances and iconic storytelling come together with one of sport’s most celebrated weekends.

“The British Grand Prix is widely considered the home of motor racing. It’s another great milestone in our exciting partnership and our iconic characters will contribute to its legendary history. This weekend is a continuation of our commitment to creating cultural moments and growing brand relevancy,” says Claire Terry, Senior Vice President Disney Consumer Products, EMEA.

This latest instalment builds on the existing momentum of the Disney x Formula 1® “Fuel the Magic” campaign, which has seen global excitement including Mickey Mouse conducting the Fountains of Bellagio at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a Formula 1 car installation in Tomorrowland at Shanghai Disneyland for the Chinese Grand Prix and Minnie Mouse waving the checkered flag for the F1 ACADEMY ™ race for the Canadian Grand Prix. Fans across the UK will be invited to engage with Disney storytelling like never before, both at the track and across the capital – through a series of immersive experiences, industry-leading live performances and retail activations.

New Disney x F1 products: New launches

At the heart of Disney’s presence is a seven-piece must-have collection of Disney x F1 products debuting specifically for the British Grand Prix. Fans at the race can shop the collection at the trackside fanzone, as well as the F1 Hub on Oxford Street and fanatics.co.uk (available now). Also on sale, is the new Disney x F1 ACADEMY ™ range launched for Silverstone.

Additional product highlights include Disney x Formula 1® t-shirts, caps and a Mickey plush exclusive to Disney Store, plus a selection of collectible pins.

Magic at the track: Disney takes centre stage with live entertainment

Across the Silverstone circuit, iconic Disney characters and entertainment will bring moments of joy, surprise and spectacle to race weekend. In a first for the circuit, Disney Theatre Group will bring the energy and scale of the West End to Silverstone, with special performances from The Lion King and Hercules; whilst Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will make surprise appearances throughout the weekend, creating unmissable shareable moments that connect fans with Disney’s most beloved characters in an entirely new setting.

Immersive trackside experiences

Retail activations will appear both in the trackside fanzone and the Paddock Club, featuring the new apparel and accessories, plus a Disney x Formula 1® photobooth so race-goers can take home a personalised photo souvenir.

City-wide retail takeover

Beyond the track, Disney will extend the excitement into London with a series of brand activations, including store and transport takeovers. The flagship Disney Store on Oxford Street will transform with a dedicated takeover and new products.

UNIQLO will activate across four London locations, stocking the Disney x Formula 1® collection, marking the first time the six-piece collection has been stocked within a UK store. In addition, visitors to the UNIQLO 311 Oxford Street flagship will be able to experience additional activations to capture the excitement of race festivities, beginning from the British Grand Prix race weekend.

Across the capital, high-impact placements including bespoke black cabs, an Oxford Street presence and inclusion in the F1 Hub on Oxford Street, London will ensure the Disney x F1 campaign is unmissable, driving momentum from awareness to store.

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Co-op and Bonmarché are strengthening their partnership with the launch of four new in-store concessions, it has been confirmed today.

A new Bonmarché store has now launched inside Co-op’s Stornoway store which follows the opening of Bonmarché ‘store within a store’ concessions inside Co-op stores in Plympton; Hereford and Prudhoe over recent weeks.

The move enables value womenswear fashion retailer Bonmarché to bring its latest collections direct to more communities. The new stores showcase the latest range of inspirational fashion for real women, everything from wardrobe essentials and fashion staples to nightwear, accessories, and footwear.

The stores also feature exciting new collections from their brand ambassadors, Lisa Snowdon and Lorraine Kelly, as well as their everyday luxury brand Dash and casual lifestyle brand Autonomy.

The openings have created new local job opportunities, and the teams are looking forward to being part of and supporting their local communities.

Amanda Waterfield, Bonmarché Retail Director, commented: “We’re delighted to announce the opening of four new Bonmarché concessions within Co-op stores in Hereford, Prudhoe, Plympton and Stornoway.

This new store in store concept allows us to showcase our full fashion offering, including our latest collections and exciting celebrity collaborations.

We’re excited to become part of these new communities and offering customers stylish womenswear at exceptional value. This new partnership also reflects our continued investment in the local high street, with over 225 Bonmarché stores across the UK, and we want to give a huge thank you to all the teams involved.”

Kevin Buchan, Head of Partnerships, Co-op, said: “We are delighted to grow our partnership with Bonmarché, and to work with them to unveil their latest in-store concessions. Co-op is committed to backing high streets and communities, and we work to ensure our stores are more than just a shop. We aim to create a destination in communities combining great quality products, value and deals along with a range of added services – all at the heart of local community life. Providing a home for Bonmarché inside the local Co-op provides a new store locally and enables Bonmarché to bring its latest fashion collections and value to the community.”

This latest development takes the number of Bonmarché concessions in Co-op stores to five, following the launch of a first concession in Louth in 2024. The two retailers have ambitions to continue to work together to grow the partnership.

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Warner’s Supermarket is serving customers ‘faster than ever before’ after introducing new retail headset technology that enables colleagues to communicate instantly and respond to customer requests in real time.

The independently owned grocery retailer, located in the heart of the Cotswolds in Upton-upon-Severn, is one of the first stores to deploy Quail Digital’s new Pro12 Retail Headset System.

According to Warner’s, the system has improved communication between colleagues across the shop floor, checkouts and stockroom, helping teams coordinate daily operations more efficiently and respond faster during busy trading periods.

Store Manager Jack Cross explained how the technology has positively impacted both customer service and team productivity.

“In busy supermarket environments, staff are often spread across multiple areas, including checkouts, the shop floor, stockroom and back office, making fast and reliable communication essential to delivering a smooth customer experience,” said Mr Cross.

To support this, Warner’s introduced the Quail Digital Pro12 Retail Headset System, enabling instant hands-free communication between colleagues anywhere in the store.

Having the ability to call a colleague, locate an item and get support immediately speeds things up for the customer and speeds things up for the team as well.”

Before introducing the system, staff often needed to leave their department or physically locate colleagues to check stock availability, request assistance or answer customer queries says Mr Cross. He added that during busy trading periods, these delays could impact responsiveness and customer service.

Mr Cross added: “With instant communication available throughout the store, colleagues can now quickly coordinate stock checks, request support at busy tills and respond to customer enquiries without leaving their position. The headsets have helped improve responsiveness during peak trading periods and support smoother day-to-day operations.”

Maker Quail Digital claims the Pro12 Retail Headset System is ‘designed for fast-paced retail environments where clear, instant communication is critical to both operational efficiency and customer service’. The platform combines secure team communication with built-in speech recognition and AI connectivity, helping retailers ‘keep colleagues connected across the entire store’.

Tom Downes, CEO and Founder of Quail Digital, said: “What we’ve seen at Warner’s is a great example of how improved communication can have a direct impact on customer service and operational efficiency.

When colleagues can communicate instantly without leaving their position, customer questions can be answered faster, support can arrive more quickly and teams can work together more effectively.

Retailers are increasingly looking for communication solutions that help stores operate more efficiently while supporting a better customer experience, and Warner’s is a great example of the benefits that can be achieved when teams stay connected throughout the day.”

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Far from drawing consumers away from physical retail, social media is driving an estimated 1.7 billion visits to UK high streets every year – an average of over 30 million visits a week – according to new research from American Express.

The Hype to High Street study, conducted with analysts Retail Economics, found that nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of UK adults have visited a shop or hospitality venue within the last year, such as a café or restaurant, after being influenced by content they saw on social media. Among Gen Z consumers (aged 18-28), that figure rises to 88 percent.

The study suggests social media has become a powerful driver of both customer footfall and loyalty, particularly among younger consumers. More than four in five (82 percent) consumers return to a business after a socially influenced first visit, rising to 96 percent among Gen Z. These customers are also powerful advocates; nearly eight in ten (79 percent) say they shared their most recent visit in some way – whether that meant recommending that business, posting about it on social media or leaving a review online. Among Gen Z, that figure rises to 89 percent.

The ‘viral pilgrimage’ economy

Short-form social content is helping translate viral and ‘hot’ products into offline demand, with the rise of products such as Dubai chocolate and matcha drinks, along with trending locations or experiences motivating consumers to visit in person.

This points to the emergence of a new ‘viral pilgrimage’ economy, where consumers travel significant distances to other towns and parts of the country, to experience products, venues and trends they first discovered online. Over a third (35 percent) of Gen Z consumers have travelled to another city or region to purchase a product they first saw trending online. Once there, nearly nine in ten (87 percent) say they would be willing to queue for a sought-after product or experience.

Social influence is driving spend

The research is based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults, combined with economic modelling used to calculate the total value and volume of social media-influenced spending on UK high streets.

Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) respondents reported spending money during a socially influenced visit, rising to 94 percent among Gen Z shoppers. More broadly, Retail Economics’ modelling suggests that social media now influences one in every 20 in-person high street purchases across the UK, highlighting its growing role in converting online engagement into real-world spending.

The domino effect of viral footfall

At a time when many high streets continue to face pressures, the research also shows that the benefits of socially influenced visits extend beyond individual businesses, generating wider economic value for surrounding retailers, restaurants and other venues.

Almost a third (32 percent) of consumers visited additional nearby shops, restaurants or venues during the same socially influenced trip, while more than one in five Gen Z shoppers (22 percent) said they spent more than originally planned once they arrived.

Dan Edelman, UK General Manager, Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Social media has become the new shop window for Britain’s high streets. What starts as a scroll on social is increasingly translating into real-world visits, increased spending and growth opportunity for businesses across the UK.

What’s striking is that the impact doesn’t stop at the venue that first caught a consumer’s attention – social media is creating a domino effect that benefits neighbouring businesses and helps entire high streets thrive. For merchants, particularly those looking to attract younger consumers, the ability to turn online hype into memorable in-person experiences has never been more important. At American Express, we’re committed to championing the UK’s high streets and the businesses that power them, helping merchants make the most of these changing consumer behaviours.”

Case study – House of Kind

House of Kind, a London-based womenswear brand, is one of those businesses. After one of their T-shirts went viral following a collaboration with charity 50:50 Parliament, there has been a lasting impact on their online and in person sales.

Sonica Beckmann, Founder and CEO of House of Kind, said: “When one of our T-shirts went viral, the response was immediate – our Instagram followers grew by 67 percent in days, website traffic jumped by over 400%, and the product sold out across multiple sizes. At an independent Soho boutique where we are stocked, our in-person sales went up by 60% that week. This won us a new loyal customer base, and we’ve seen a lasting positive effect on the business.”

Richard Lim, CEO at Retail Economics, said: “Social media is not just driving online sales, it is now also influencing in-person spend on the UK high street. The channel’s growth underlines just how quickly shopping via social has become mainstream, as well as the extent of its positive contribution to the long-term health of UK high streets. Social media is becoming an increasingly important driver of footfall in its own right, helping turn shops, restaurants and venues into destinations consumers actively seek out, visit and share with others.”

In the UK since 2021, the number of locations accepting American Express has tripled, including more UK small businesses than ever before.1 American Express Cards are accepted at over 170 million merchant locations worldwide as of year-end 2025.2

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Recognising the unique duality of Harlequin, which serves as both the heart of Watford and as a destination of choice for customers living in North London and across the Home Counties, JD Gyms will bring high-spec, premium fitness facilities together with exceptional value to the centre.

At over 30,000 sq ft, the development will serve as a regional flagship for JD Gyms. It will deliver a fitness experience that combines a state-of-the-art gym and studio facilities with a huge range of cutting-edge equipment, all set within a bold, design-led space anchored by a striking glass atrium.

The brand will join Harlequin Watford’s carefully selected mix of leading UK and international retail and leisure operators, adding to what is already a unique mix in the region. It will benefit from Harlequin Watford’s annual footfall of 17.2 million, which is ahead of many super regional centres in the UK, and cater to the destination’s diverse catchment, which extends into London and across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Robert Jewell, Managing Director of Asset Management at Pradera, commented: “As Harlequin continues to evolve as a dual-purpose destination for both retail and leisure, the signing of such an in-demand brand as JD Gyms is another landmark moment for the centre’s ongoing evolution. Harlequin continues to welcome its visitors back time and time again, and the arrival of JD Gyms will create yet another reason for customers to spend more time at the centre as part of their active lifestyles.”

Darren Pallett, Property Director at JD Gyms, adds: “We are delighted to be bringing a new flagship gym to Harlequin Watford, combining standout design, exceptional facilities, and great value. The site provides us with a high-quality, high-footfall destination and it marks another step in our ambition to bring our award-winning concept to more locations across the South East.”

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Total Till sales at UK supermarkets rose (+4.6 percent) in the four weeks ending 13th June, improving from +4.2 percent in the previous period, reveals new data released today by NielsenIQ (NIQ). This was primarily driven by the end of May heatwave, when sales growth at the Grocery Multiples increased (+6.3 percent) in the two weeks ending 30th May, unit growth rose (+2.5 percent) and spend per visit was up (+2.3 percent).

However, NIQ data reveals that in the following two weeks to 13th June, sales growth slowed sharply (+0.4 percent), while unit growth fell (-1.7 percent), as cooler and wetter weather discouraged spending. Shoppers spent £490m less during these two weeks compared with the previous fortnight¹. This is also reflected in consumer confidence remaining unchanged at -23, with shoppers continuing to hold a negative outlook on their personal circumstances.

Boost in promotional spending and online FMCG

In the four-week period, promotional activity continued to play a key role in driving FMCG performance, with spend on promotion rising to 25 percent of total FMCG sales, up from 23.5 percent last year, which was helped by some new World Cup themed promotions. In the online channel, promotional spend was even higher (29 percent), as shoppers prioritised value for money and convenience of shop.

With this in mind, retailers increasingly relied on promotions, targeted price cuts and own label ranges to sustain demand, with own label sales (+5.4 percent value / +0.3 percent units) growing three times faster than branded sales. This was further supported by strong performance from premium own label lines, which recorded +9.1 percent value growth and +6.2 percent unit growth.²

With the uptick in sales and the start of the World Cup, the Convenience channel sales increased +1.7 percent year-on-year. Growth in convenience stores operated by the Grocery Multiples was also higher (+3.6 percent) compared with a year ago.

However, this growth remains well behind online share of FMCG spend, where sales increased (+9.3%) ², making online the fastest growing channel in 2026. This was aided by the rise of rapid delivery which also benefited from the hottest day of the year so far, with rapid delivery reaching 12.8 percent share of online on 26th May 2026, its highest share of online sales this year to date ⁴.

Warmer weather also drove strong growth in outdoor and summer-led products, including suncare (+70 percent), prepared salad (+21 percent value) and fresh dips (+20 percent value). There was also growth in fresh foods (+4.4 percent), while frozen (+9.4 percent) became the fastest growing super category, driven by strong performance in ice cream (+34 percent) and frozen fruit (+28 percent), with total spend reaching £252m.

World Cup fever drives growth in drinks and world cuisine categories

There was also growth in the drinks categories, such as beer, wine and spirits (+2.7 percent), as well as soft drinks (11.9 percent value / +5.6 percent units). Shoppers also spent £411m on lager, where sales rose (+7.9 percent), and £111m on cider (+10 percent). Premix alcoholic drinks (+51 percent) also saw strong growth. This coincides with the start of the World Cup and warmer weather, encouraging consumers to host viewing parties and social occasions.

The impact of The World Cup was also reflected in the demand for new cuisines and world flavours, with the cooking sauces category showing heightened consumer interest in experimenting with more diverse foods. Interest was particularly strong in Japanese (+9.0 percent)⁴, Thai & South East Asian (+14.8 percent), Spanish (+31.2 percent) and Mexican (+7.1 percent) flavours. In contrast, unit growth across more mainstream cuisines declined, including British (-0.9 percent) and Indian (-2.4 percent), while Italian recorded modest growth (+0.7 percent).⁵

NIQ data shows that 43 percent⁶ of shoppers now experiment with new recipes and cuisines at least every fortnight, a trend that is prompting retailers and brands to expand world-inspired ranges to capitalise on growing consumer appetite, further amplified by global events such as the World Cup.

Over the 12 weeks, Asda was the only major retailer to see sales decline (-4.9 percent). Ocado was the fastest growing retailer (+16.1 percent), followed by M&S (+14.3 percent) and Lidl (+9.2 percent). Co-op sales also increased (+6.0 percent) alongside Sainsbury’s (+3.5 percent), which continued to grow market share and rose to 15.0 percent. In contrast, Aldi sales were flat at 0.0 percent.

Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight at NielsenIQ, says: “The arrival of hot weather boosted demand for summer essentials, with suncare, ice cream and refreshment related categories among the fastest growing areas of grocery spend. As well as outdoor dining occasions, dips and sharing foods as consumers made the most of the early summer weather and retailers adapted ranges to meet this demand.”

Mike adds: “Looking ahead, the second heatwave of the year will likely see another boost to sales into July, conveniently coinciding with the summer of sport. Yet, we still expect lower demand into August when the holiday season disrupts spending. The economic outlook for September is still uncertain with increases in mortgage and energy costs expected and the possibility that accelerating food inflation could start to take a bigger share of disposable incomes, which may add further uncertainty for households. Retailers and brands will therefore need to continue to find innovative ways to encourage shoppers to spend to maintain the current sales momentum.”

Unless otherwise stated all data is NIQ Homescan Total Till

¹NIQ Scantrack Total Coverage

²Homescan FMCG 12 we 13.06.26

³NIQ Scantrack Defined Grocery Multiples e commerce 4 w.e 13th June 2026

⁴ NIQ Digital Purchases Value Share | YTD is up to 13th June 2026

⁵NIQ Scantrack | Total Coverage | 12 weeks to 13.06.26

⁶ NIQ Homescan Survey | November 2025

Image courtesy of Unsplash. Photo credit: Immo Wegmann.

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