Consumers spent a whopping 27% more on groceries during the lockdown in March, making it the biggest month for grocery sales ever recorded.

Farmers will be interested to see that figures released by Kantar show a surge in sales of fresh chicken by almost 10%.

Sales of fresh milk and meat also increased, but only by about 5% in the same period.

It will add to concerns for beef farmers that more expensive steak cuts are being left on supermarket shelves, while consumers go for cheaper cuts and types of meat.

The data charts collates the 12 weeks up to 22 March and shows that the average household spent €122 more on groceries in the four weeks up to 22 March.

Food choices

“Looking at our food choices, items with a longer shelf life saw the biggest uplift, as sales of frozen and ambient foods, meaning those that can be stored at room temperature, increased by 32%,” David Berry, managing director at Kantar said.

“By comparison, demand for fresh food has been more modest – growing by 16% over the last four weeks.

There will likely be a rebalancing of sales of fresh and non-perishable items as shoppers with full freezers and cupboards replenish fresh supplies

“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.”

The main items on shoppers’ lists were hygiene products, with sales of soap going up 300% and toilet roll going up 86%.

All the country’s main retailers recorded growth during the 12-week period.

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