December is a special time for everyone. And we are talking about people planning to spend Christmas in a family circle and entrepreneurs who count on a seasonal increase in sales and higher revenues. Poles' baskets not only receive various kinds of gifts for their loved ones.

The pre-holiday period is also a time of increased grocery shopping: not only do you need to prepare a refined supper for the whole family, but also stock up on a few days off. So what do Poles buy the most?

First, the Christmas Eve supper, then other holidays, and then even New Year's Eve parties. Yes, December is the time when it is favorable for bigger grocery shopping. What most often goes to Poles' baskets during this period? By observing the statistics from several years, you can determine the area of ​​certain specific products, which we buy more than usual in December:

  • Fish - after all, what is Christmas Eve without a carp! Poles eat the most fish twice a year, ie at Christmas and Easter. In addition to the title carp, dishes made of carp, herring, cod or salmon are often served on the table on Christmas Eve. Some people also choose panga or tilapia, although they have lost their popularity in recent years.
  • Sweets - they are the most frequently chosen food products bought before Christmas! Interestingly, most Poles do not plan this purchase, but make decisions about buying sweets spontaneously in the store. Sweets either go to the festive table or become one of the gifts. After all, who of us did not get Milka's chocolate or a Rafaello gift wrap
  • Refreshing drinks - although the demand for Pepsi, Sprite, Coca-Cola or Schweppes lasts all year round, Poles used to buy even more of these products for Christmas. Why? To some extent, they are still associated with high-quality products and celebration, and their taste is well-liked. Christmas is also a time when we can afford more. So, even if we eat Coca-Cola occasionally during the year, we will not limit ourselves during these few days in December! There is one more factor - we often buy a supply of refreshing drinks so that they will last not only for Christmas, but also for New Year's Eve. Especially if we are preparing a home party.
  • Spices and dried fruit - and any other ingredients needed to prepare Christmas dishes. Poles often look for support in finished products and semi-finished products. Broths and ready-made Knorr sauces, spices, Bakalland delicacies ... could be multiplied here!
  • Alcohols - vodka, whiskey, brandy, wine - December is also a time of increased sales of alcohol products. We buy for Christmas, New Year's Eve, and also for gifts. For this reason, in December we more often buy slightly more expensive alcohols, “top shelf” products. The least popular alcoholic Christmas gift is beer, although here we can also find gift sets.

Has anything changed in the purchases of Poles?

It cannot be denied that the pandemic, crisis and inflation have affected all of us. But did they change the shopping habits of Poles before Christmas? Yes and no. The categories of products that go to pre-Christmas baskets, especially when we are talking about food products, have certainly not changed. The changes, however, concern the amount and the way in which we buy these purchases.

First of all - we are more economical. It was like that last year. While in 2019, i.e. before the pandemic, the average cost of Christmas expenses for a family of 4 was PLN 1700, in December 2020 it was only PLN 700. A drastic difference, but the specificity of that period should be taken into account: pandemic wave 2, uncertainty, lockdown, limited meetings and visits. However, this year, when we have got used to living with the coronavirus and the social restrictions are smaller, will anything change? Although many Poles have promised themselves in 2020 that they will "get back" in the next Christmas, social research shows that people still decide to be quite careful. Christmas spending is likely to be higher than last year, but may not reach 2019 levels.

Another noticeable change is the way we shop. And it's not just about promotions, but about being physically present in the store. It turns out that during the lockdown, Poles got used to shopping remotely. And this trend also applies to grocery shopping. Research shows that as many as 85% of Poles have used the option of ordering food products online. As many as 41% plan to buy food for Christmas in this way. The remote shopping option is supported not only by financial savings, but also by saving time and stress, which we often experience in stores during the Christmas race.

What are your shopping plans for Christmas?