Kilkenny shoppers splash the cash: Grocery sales increase to €371m as purchases of alcohol soars 44%

Shoppers in Kilkenny didn’t hold back in the run-up to Easter this year despite the lockdown as alcohol sales increased by 44% year-on-year.

Irish shoppers spent €371m on groceries during the week ending April 12 2020, the highest sales week of the year so far, and an increase of 14% compared to the same week ending on Easter Sunday in 2019, new data released by Nielsen.

However, sales of alcohol reached €49.3m, which is an increase of 44% in spend compared to the same Easter week in 2019.

This increase in spend on alcohol is attributed to rising at home consumption, following the closure of bars and restaurants in Ireland amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the week ending April 12 2020, consumers celebrated the Easter weekend around the dinner table, with frozen poultry reaching €2m in sales, a massive 631% increase compared to the same week ending Easter Sunday in 2019.

There was also a significant year-on-year increase in sales for other Easter dinner-related food such as gravy (+59%), turkey (+14%), potatoes (+14%), lamb (+11%) and mint sauce (+8%).

This also included an increase in frozen desserts (+33%), take home ice cream (+57%) and fresh cream (+68%).