The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee provided retailers with a much-needed footfall boost as shoppers got into the party spirit.

Retailers get Jubilee boost as Brits get into party spirit

Shopper traffic surged 8.6% week-on-week in the period to June 3, according to Experian data, and the festivities translated directly into sales for some retailers.

Waitrose reported that sales surged 19.8% to £123m in the week to Saturday. Picnic food such as pork pies and sausage rolls topped the bestsellers’ list.

Similarly M&S recorded its biggest ever weekend for strawberry sales – more than 1m packs were sold.  Morrisons sold 2m punnets in the eight days to Tuesday June 5.

Marks & Spencer sold more than 90,000 flags and bunting sold out. Tesco sold 2,019 miles of bunting compared to Sainsbury’s 550 miles.

Asda said a third of all Brits tucked into one of the grocer’s bread rolls at Jubilee parties as 20 million were sold.

An Asda spokesman said: “The nation’s spirits definitely weren’t dampened over the Jubilee weekend, despite the wet weather. In true British style shoppers kept to their celebratory plans and stocked up on party essentials.”

In fact, a third of all umbrellas the grocer sold over the weekend had a Union Jack design.

Asda also sold more than 30,000 commemorative mugs and 15,000 plates meanwhile Sainsbury’s sold 58,000 Prince Phillip and Queen face masks.

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