Screwfix adopts ‘British Football Time’ opening hours during World Cup

The retailer, which caters for a ‘white van man’ customer base, will open an hour earlier than usual at 6am on June 23, when an England game is scheduled for 3pm.

Screwfix said the change was “to enable tradesmen to extend their working day and work around the crucial match” and was made because during the last Word Cup there was a surge in early trading as customers sought to get their work done ahead of kick-off.

The retailer said it would shift trading hours to “British Football Time” on any days when an England match takes place during trading hours but stores will remain open during games.

A raft of retailers expect to benefit during the World Cup including electricals groups, which anticipate a surge in TV sales, and grocers, as sports fans stock up on food and drink for the games.