Aussies serve up $20 billion feast this Christmas

WITH Australian consumers expected to spend over $20 billion on grocery items this Christmas, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) believes physical retailers will start to see a vast increase in foot traffic across local and inner-city stores this weekend as Australians stock up for their Christmas celebrations.

Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ARA said with foot traffic increasing 7.5 percent week-on-week across bricks-and-mortar stores, the ARA believes Australians will increase their food spending by 3.27 percent during the Christmas period.

“Although more and more consumers are buying their Christmas groceries online, online retailers can only do so much leading up to the big day,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Shoppers who have not yet ordered their Christmas groceries online will instead be heading into town to spend big at food retailers across the country to ensure they are ready for their Christmas feast.”

Bryan Skepper, Sydney Fish Market general manager, said they are expecting more than 100,000 shoppers to visit the Sydney Fish Market between 5am on Saturday 23 December to 5pm on Sunday 24 December to source their fresh seafood for this year’s Christmas lunch.

“The 36-Hour Seafood Marathon is a long-standing tradition where visitors can collect more than just seafood; they can source advice on the best wines and beer to pair with their meal from the bottle shop; or pick up fresh bread from the bakery.”

With extended trading hours in place, the ARA believes the festive season will drive supermarket sales up in the last weeks of December, exceeding last year’s sales by 3.27 percent.

Michael Jackson, Director of Merchandising, Marketing & Customer Insights at Endeavour Drinks Group, said any Christmas lunch wouldn’t be complete without an excellent beverage selection.

“Rosé continues to be the fastest growing category in wine this year, but we believe Aperol and Campari Aperitifs will be the biggest trend in spirits this summer,” Mr Jackson said.

“While the Great Northern continues to drive the mid strength category for beer lovers, Pure Blonde Cider is leading a change to the Cider category with its focus as a lighter and healthier drink.”

With only two weeks until Christmas, and foot traffic on the rise, the ARA urge retailers to be prepared for a surge in shopper traffic this weekend as Australians stock up for their Christmas celebrations.

“With consumers to hit the stores late this week we also ask that shoppers remain patient as retail staff manage the increased number of customers,” Mr Zimmerman said.

To view the ARA and Roy Morgan’s Annual Pre-Christmas Sales Predictions for 2017 click here.

 

ARA ROY MORGAN PRE-CHRISTMAS SALES PREDICTIONS 2017

November 15 – December 24, 2017

 

2017 Pre-Christmas Sales Growth by Category

State	2016 Pre-Christmas actual results ($mil)	2017 Forecast Pre-Christmas sales ($mil)	Predicted Growth
FOOD	19643	20284	3.27%
HH GOODS	8503	8704	2.37%
APPAREL	3869	3890	0.54%
DEPARTMENT STORES	2928	2957	0.99%
OTHER	6911	7184	3.96%
HOSPITALITY	6854	7052	2.89%
NATIONAL	48708	50073	2.80%

[ARA / ROY MORGAN]

 

2017 Pre-Christmas Sales Growth by State

State	2016 Pre-Christmas actual results ($mil)	2017 Forecast Pre-Christmas sales ($mil)	Predicted Growth
NSW	15692	16265	3.65%
VIC	12267	12742	3.87%
QLD	9838	9951	1.15%
SA	3164	3266	3.23%
WA	5386	5434	0.89%
TAS	967	996	3.01%
NT	499	508	1.77%
ACT	895	911	1.76%
NATIONAL	48708	50073	2.80%

[ARA / ROY MORGAN]

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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