CHRISTMAS supermarket delivery slots get snapped up quickly as soon as booking opens, but you might have more luck with click and collect.
Shoppers are particularly keen to secure their festive food orders this year amid concerns over food shortages.
That – combined with a surge in popularity for home deliveries during the pandemic – means competition to bag a slot is more fierce than ever.
Supermarkets have ramped up their capacity to cater for the increase in demand, but if you can’t get a home delivery you could consider click and collect.
Opting to collect your food order is often cheaper – or even free – but you’ll need a car to pick it up.
The best availability seems to be for Food to Order collections – where the festive food comes ready to pop in the oven.
But this can be a more expensive option, and is geared towards Christmas entertaining rather than essential groceries and ingredients.
Some stores are yet to open click and collect slots for bookings, so keep your eye on when they’ll be launched.
Tesco’s Christmas click and collect slots will be available to book from November 16 at 6am for Delivery Saver customers.
Other shoppers will be able to secure an collection from November 23 at 6am.
Sainsbury’s hasn’t confirmed when click & collect slots will be available but it’s likely to be around the same time that home delivery bookings open.
The supermarket said today that delivery pass holders can get their orders in from November 23, and the booking system will open to everyone else on November 30.
Sainsbury’s has already launched its food to order service – which is for collection only.
It said its busiest collection days are December 23 and 24, and recommended collecting on December 22
“All products ordered for Christmas will stay fresh until at least Boxing Day, regardless of the day you collect them,” the supermarket said.
Asda Christmas collection slots are now open to everyone from today and cost just 50p in the week before Christmas.
When we checked online, using a south London postcode, there were plenty of delivery and click & collect slots available.
However, there were no collection appointments available on Christmas eve.
Morrisons has free food to order collection slots available in the week before Christmas as well as throughout December.
When we checked what slots were available in south London on December 22, 23 and 24 there was a good selection of times on offer.
But it hasn’t yet opened up its click and collect slots for general groceries in the run up to Christmas.
The supermarket hasn’t said when booking will open, but it’s likely to be at the same time as delivery slots become available.
It hasn’t confirmed when that will be, but it has said Delivery Pass customers get priority bookings for the festive period.
Marks & Spencer has collection dates left for its Christmas food to order range, which includes turkey joints, roast beef, trimmings and puddings.
There are slots available on December 22, 23 and 24, so you can get your festive treats ready for the big day.
You can’t use click & collect for general groceries at M&S because the retailer has a partnership with Ocado, which only does home deliveries.
Waitrose has two different collection options – one that is just for turkeys and festive food, and another that is for your complete shop including your Christmas treats.
We spotted a few slots available in the week before Christmas for a groceries shop, but not many so you might have to move fast to secure one.
There are more dates available if you just want a Food to Order slot, which won’t include non-festive essentials.
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