The long spell of warm weather this summer has boosted second-quarter sales in the Irish retail sector by 3.4%, according to, Retail Ireland's latest Retail Monitor report.
The report also mentions that categories like grocery, DIY, hardware and fuel benefitted 'strongly' from the heatwave in June.
Positive Impact Of Good Weather
Supermarkets and convenience stores have shown strong results in June, establishing a sustained pattern of growth.
An increased demand for seasonal products and 'little and often' shopping contributed to a growth in sales in volume and value for supermarkets.
Consumption of soft drinks and off-trade alcohol also increased during this phase because of the weather and certain once-off events.
“Other once-off events, such as the football World Cup and the royal wedding in the UK, provided a welcome boost to trade for retailers in the period, with sales of soft drinks, alcohol and magazines benefitting most. This trend reflects a broader move towards event-led retail in recent years, as retailers seek to leverage such events to help promote consumer spend,” said Retail Ireland director Thomas Burke.
Retailers Pushed To The Limits
According to Burke, the prolonged cold weather in March followed by an unusually warm summer has had a "huge impact on Irish retailers" in the first half of 2018.
"With the recent fine spell of weather, our members have reported strong demand for seasonal products, such as fans, ice cream, barbecues, and patio furniture, amongst other things. This spike in demand pushed retailers' supply chains to the limit during June, particularly," he said.
However, the warm weather was not all good news for retailers in department stores, fashion and footwear, and hairdressing, as they reported a decline in sales and footfall.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
