Sainsbury’s joins Primark and M&S in extending pre-Christmas opening hours

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman confirmed the UK’s second-largest grocer would be extending opening hours from 6am until midnight in “the vast majority” of its stores from December 21 to 23. 

The grocers join a growing list of non-essential retailers such as Primark, which are looking at extending opening hours in the three weeks after stores reopen on December 2 and Christmas Day. 

On Christmas Eve, most Sainsbury’s stores will be open from 6am to 7pm and she said it had taken the decision to extend opening hours to give “our customers more time to shop safely with us”.

Discounter Aldi said it will extend opening hours between December 21 and 23 until 11pm, while smaller Waitrose stores will also extend opening hours until 11pm in the run-up to Christmas. 

Retail Week understands Tesco is also looking to extend opening hours across at least some of its estate ahead of Christmas.

A spokesman for Asda said some of the grocer’s stores already have flexible licences “so opening hours in these locations can change if needed”. 

However, he said Asda was not “planning to change the hours across the whole estate” due to licensing in certain areas. 

Marks & Spencer has confirmed it will keep around 400 of its shops, or two-thirds of its estate, open until midnight for the first time. It anticipates December 21 to 23 will be “our busiest days” of the year.

M&S stores staying open later will include the majority of its food-only shops as well as combined clothing and food stores on retail parks.

Shops on high streets and in shopping centres will predominantly close at 10pm. 

A spokesman for value fashion giant Primark said: “We are currently reviewing our store opening times on a store-by-store basis. 

“Where possible these will be extended to help us cater for the anticipated higher customer demand and reduce customer queues by spreading potential shopping hours over a longer period of time.”

Value retailer Wilko will also look to extend opening hours from December 14 with stores operating from 8am until 7pm.