Ice cream gross sales hit 56-year excessive as 37C Britain prepares for hottest day ever
Forecasters urged the nation to prepare for round two of scorching weather starting this weekend and those wanting an ice cream are being urged to stock up now
Ice cream sales are set to hit an all time high(Image: Getty Images)
Boiled Brits went into meltdown during last week’s record-breaking heatwave as ice cream sales soared to their highest level in Iceland’s 56-year history.
The frozen food giant said shoppers stripped freezers bare as temperatures hit a record 37.3C. Ice cream sales rocketed 143% in a week and bags of ice cubes soared by 266%. And there’s more to come with some reports saying we could hit a UK high 41C in coming weeks.
An Iceland spokesman said: “Last week’s heatwave sparked a buying frenzy unlike anything we’ve seen before. Ice creams, lollies and ice cubes were flying out the freezers as customers raced to beat the heat, making it the biggest week for frozen treats in our 56-year history.”
Aldi also flogged more than 2.5 million ice creams between the Monday and Wednesday of the heatwave, with sales jumping 144% compared with the previous week.
And the budget supermarket saw soaring demand for barbecue grub including burgers and hot dogs. Forecasters urged the nation to prepare for round two of scorching weather starting this weekend.
Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said high pressure will continue to build “across most of the UK” as it spreads from the Azores.
He added: “This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales. The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high twenties across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid- to high-twenties in Wales.”
Iceland is urging shoppers to stock up before the next hot spell, warning another buying frenzy could be on the cards if temperatures soar again.
The spokesman added: “If more hot weather arrives, we expect demand to soar again, so we’d encourage shoppers to get stocked up early rather than leave it until the temperatures spike.”
