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| Britain stocks up on heatwave essentials: BBQs and factor 50 | Britain stocks up on heatwave essentials: BBQs and factor 50 |
| (2 months later) | |
| The Pimm's-ometer is set to sunshine, sun cream sales are soaring and shops are stocking up on burgers as Britain prepares for a two-week heatwave. | The Pimm's-ometer is set to sunshine, sun cream sales are soaring and shops are stocking up on burgers as Britain prepares for a two-week heatwave. |
| With temperatures expected to reach 29C in parts of the country on Sunday, compared with a July average of 19.4C, the nation is rediscovering its barbecues and giving a boost to supermarkets, DIY stores and garden centres. | With temperatures expected to reach 29C in parts of the country on Sunday, compared with a July average of 19.4C, the nation is rediscovering its barbecues and giving a boost to supermarkets, DIY stores and garden centres. |
| Waitrose closely watches sales of Pimm's, the traditional summer drink, as a barometer for the impact of weather. Sales were up 90% last week. It said sales of salads, soft fruit, white wine, rosé and toiletries, as well as barbecue food and accessories, were likely to rise with the temperature. "The weather has a huge impact on what customers buy. Historically we've benefited from periods of hotter weather," said David Jones, its supply chain director. | Waitrose closely watches sales of Pimm's, the traditional summer drink, as a barometer for the impact of weather. Sales were up 90% last week. It said sales of salads, soft fruit, white wine, rosé and toiletries, as well as barbecue food and accessories, were likely to rise with the temperature. "The weather has a huge impact on what customers buy. Historically we've benefited from periods of hotter weather," said David Jones, its supply chain director. |
| Britain continued to bask in a heatwave on Sunday with forecasters expecting the men's final at Wimbledon between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic being played in temperatures above 30C. | Britain continued to bask in a heatwave on Sunday with forecasters expecting the men's final at Wimbledon between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic being played in temperatures above 30C. |
| The dry, hot spell will continue for at least another 10 days, according to the Met Office. The last time the country enjoyed a prolonged bout of warm July weather was seven years ago, when temperatures were above 28C in many areas for a fortnight. The hottest region on Sunday was expected to be the Thames Valley and the area around Heathrow airport, where temperatures above 30C are likely. | The dry, hot spell will continue for at least another 10 days, according to the Met Office. The last time the country enjoyed a prolonged bout of warm July weather was seven years ago, when temperatures were above 28C in many areas for a fortnight. The hottest region on Sunday was expected to be the Thames Valley and the area around Heathrow airport, where temperatures above 30C are likely. |
| Only last month leading climate scientists were warning that the UK should ready itself for up to 10 years of washout summers after identifying a new weather pattern in the North Atlantic. Now the UK weather is dominated by a high pressure system that means, according to some reports, that the south-east of England is as hot as northern Algeria and warmer than Sicily. | Only last month leading climate scientists were warning that the UK should ready itself for up to 10 years of washout summers after identifying a new weather pattern in the North Atlantic. Now the UK weather is dominated by a high pressure system that means, according to some reports, that the south-east of England is as hot as northern Algeria and warmer than Sicily. |
| Inevitably, the glorious weather sparked an exodus to the coast with tourism officials in Brighton expecting around 400,000 visitors over the weekend and Bournemouth anticipating an influx of 200,000 sunseekers. Lifeguards urged beachgoers to check tide times and swim only between designated flags. Health officials also warned that the UK's 15 million hay fever sufferers will have to contend with extremely high pollen counts throughout this week. | Inevitably, the glorious weather sparked an exodus to the coast with tourism officials in Brighton expecting around 400,000 visitors over the weekend and Bournemouth anticipating an influx of 200,000 sunseekers. Lifeguards urged beachgoers to check tide times and swim only between designated flags. Health officials also warned that the UK's 15 million hay fever sufferers will have to contend with extremely high pollen counts throughout this week. |
| Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer said it had sold a record number – almost 1m – punnets of strawberries last week. The sun-loungers are also being wheeled out across the UK, with Asda selling double the amount of suncare products it did last year, while sales of sun cream leapt 10% at Superdrug last weekend. The health and beauty chain expects to sell more suncream and aftersun this weekend than any other, and nearly a third more than the same time last year, when Britain was under a cloud. | Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer said it had sold a record number – almost 1m – punnets of strawberries last week. The sun-loungers are also being wheeled out across the UK, with Asda selling double the amount of suncare products it did last year, while sales of sun cream leapt 10% at Superdrug last weekend. The health and beauty chain expects to sell more suncream and aftersun this weekend than any other, and nearly a third more than the same time last year, when Britain was under a cloud. |
| Fake-tan sales are also up, with Waitrose expecting sales to soar this weekend. | Fake-tan sales are also up, with Waitrose expecting sales to soar this weekend. |
| Burger sales are expected to triple alongside a doubling of rib sales, according to Asda, as barbecues are fired up this weekend. Waitrose said sales of barbecues had risen by 116% and outdoor furniture by 165% in the last few days. | Burger sales are expected to triple alongside a doubling of rib sales, according to Asda, as barbecues are fired up this weekend. Waitrose said sales of barbecues had risen by 116% and outdoor furniture by 165% in the last few days. |
| The dash for outdoor living is good news for garden centres still recovering from a chilly Easter, which is usually their biggest time of the year. "In the past six weeks, trade has generally been a lot better than the same period last year," said Peter Burks, chairman of the Garden Centre Association. "Most garden centres are coming back towards parity with 2012 now." | The dash for outdoor living is good news for garden centres still recovering from a chilly Easter, which is usually their biggest time of the year. "In the past six weeks, trade has generally been a lot better than the same period last year," said Peter Burks, chairman of the Garden Centre Association. "Most garden centres are coming back towards parity with 2012 now." |
| He said that sales were better than expected as gardeners were buying shrubs and other larger plants later into the season because they had been slow to flower after the miserable spring. In the last 10 days, sales of garden furniture have doubled at some centres, as gardeners prepare to sit back and enjoy their work. | He said that sales were better than expected as gardeners were buying shrubs and other larger plants later into the season because they had been slow to flower after the miserable spring. In the last 10 days, sales of garden furniture have doubled at some centres, as gardeners prepare to sit back and enjoy their work. |
| "I would love it to be a warm summer, but we don't want temperatures into the 30s, as that would really put everybody off doing their gardening," said Burks. | "I would love it to be a warm summer, but we don't want temperatures into the 30s, as that would really put everybody off doing their gardening," said Burks. |
| Once the temperature rises above 28C, shoppers' behaviour changes in all kinds of ways, according to Jones. Rosé wine and cider become more popular, people buy ice lollies instead of ice creams, and mineral water is swapped for fizzy drinks. | Once the temperature rises above 28C, shoppers' behaviour changes in all kinds of ways, according to Jones. Rosé wine and cider become more popular, people buy ice lollies instead of ice creams, and mineral water is swapped for fizzy drinks. |
| However, while a heatwave may be good news for supermarkets, garden centres and seaside towns, it is usually less beneficial for department stores and high-street retailers, particularly those hoping to sell DVDs or computer games to entertain children on rainy weekends. | However, while a heatwave may be good news for supermarkets, garden centres and seaside towns, it is usually less beneficial for department stores and high-street retailers, particularly those hoping to sell DVDs or computer games to entertain children on rainy weekends. |
| "The sun doesn't shine on everyone," said Neil Saunders, managing director of retail analyst Conlumino. "The supermarkets do well as people need to buy food, regardless of the weather, but it's generally bad news for the high street." | "The sun doesn't shine on everyone," said Neil Saunders, managing director of retail analyst Conlumino. "The supermarkets do well as people need to buy food, regardless of the weather, but it's generally bad news for the high street." |
| If the weather becomes too warm, town centres, shopping malls and department stores suffer as people head to the park or beach, with the number of shoppers falling by up to 15%, according to Saunders. | If the weather becomes too warm, town centres, shopping malls and department stores suffer as people head to the park or beach, with the number of shoppers falling by up to 15%, according to Saunders. |
| The sun may bring some good news for clothing shops, but could have come too late for many. Most are in the full swing of their end-of-season sales as they clear stock after a slow start to the summer. Sales are thought to have fallen as far as 5% across the high street. | The sun may bring some good news for clothing shops, but could have come too late for many. Most are in the full swing of their end-of-season sales as they clear stock after a slow start to the summer. Sales are thought to have fallen as far as 5% across the high street. |
| Derek Lovelock, chairman of Oasis, Warehouse, Coast and Karen Millen, said: "It was a difficult start for the whole trade with the unseasonal weather but a warm spell will certainly improve sales and help to clear stock ahead of the autumn." | Derek Lovelock, chairman of Oasis, Warehouse, Coast and Karen Millen, said: "It was a difficult start for the whole trade with the unseasonal weather but a warm spell will certainly improve sales and help to clear stock ahead of the autumn." |
| And while you're basking on the beach or in the garden, remember that the last time the weather forecasters predicted a "barbecue summer" – in 2009 – we all ended up cowering under umbrellas rather than lounging beneath sunshades. | And while you're basking on the beach or in the garden, remember that the last time the weather forecasters predicted a "barbecue summer" – in 2009 – we all ended up cowering under umbrellas rather than lounging beneath sunshades. |
| • This article was amended on 8 July 2013 to restore text that was accidentally removed during the editing process. | • This article was amended on 8 July 2013 to restore text that was accidentally removed during the editing process. |
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