Thrilled England Followers Getting Prepared To Party Like It’s 1966 With £533m Spending Binge
Hopeful England followers are getting geared up to celebrate like it’s 1966 with a £533million spending spree on food, booze and souvenirs.
Experts are predicting the large splurge ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2020 quarter-final towards Ukraine.
Around £150m will be blown in pubs and bars, and £348m splashed out on meals and drink through followers watching at home, figures from the Centre for Retail Research and website VoucherCodes.co.uk show.
And £35m will be spent on merchandise such as replica shirts, flags, banners, mugs, hats and key rings.
Supermarkets anticipate a food, snacks and drinks buying frenzy as millions stock up today prepared for the 8pm kick-off.
Experts are warning followers to shop early for barbecue food, with 13.6 million people stated to be planning a barbie and two million vowing to carry on even if predicted widespread showers arrive.
Aldi stated 50 million burgers, bangers and steaks will be served up in pre-match feasts.
Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: “This weekend we anticipate sales – and goals – to soar as the country celebrates.”
A record football audience of 39 million is anticipated to tune in to the match on BBC1, almost double the range who saw Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Germany.
Supporters have been splashing out on huge screens too, with John Lewis reporting sales of 70in TVs up by 38% in a week, and demand for QLED tellies up by 161% year-on-year at ao.com.
More than seven million will flock to pubs to watch the clash and figures from the British Beer and Pub Association show 19 million pints will be knocked back today. And 40,000 of these pints are expected to be thrown in the air if England score.
Booze has additionally been flying off grocery store shelves, with demand for packs of beer up by 60% at the Co-op and 40% at Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.
CRR director Professor Joshua Bamfield said: “Football fever has well and really taken over. After the year we’ve all had, it is actually giving people a boost.
“They are getting back out and about to celebrate, which is giving the economy a much-needed boost – and this is only going to proceed if England make it into the semi-finals.”
VoucherCodes.co.uk’s Anita Naik summed up the mood, saying: “After a tremendous performance against Germany on Tuesday, fans are beginning to dream that it might finally be coming home.”