Are you planning to get the big Christmas food shop delivered to your door? Well, you need to get your skates on.
Some supermarkets allowed customers to reserve primetime Christmas delivery slots as early as October, while others have staggered release times this month. Either way, they’re being snapped up fast – particularly at Tesco.
Multiple customers have tweeted to say they’ve been unable to secure a delivery slot with the supermarket. “I’ve been checking daily and there they are today, all booked. Will there be any more? This is madness,” one customer, based in Gillingham, asked.
In response, Tesco tweeted: “Our home delivery slots are very popular and slots for 23 December went very quickly. I’m sorry there won’t be any more released. Some customers may cancel their slot so feel free to check back.”
HuffPost UK has contacted Tesco to confirm whether delivery slots are booked out nationwide and will update this article with a response.
In the meantime, don’t despair if you’re yet to organise your delivery, we asked other supermarkets about their current availability and when you have to book by if you want your Christmas feast delivered before the 25th.
Sainsbury’s
The deadline for orders to be placed at Sainsbury’s is midnight on the 16th December. The supermarket will then deliver food to your door until 23rd December.
A spokesperson told HuffPost UK peak Christmas slots from the 20th to the 23rd are still available, but added: “We would recommend that customers book their slots as soon as possible because availability is limited in some areas.”
Ocado
Ocado is offering delivery slots until 24th December, but a spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “Slots are selling out fast and there is limited availability for 22/23/24 December.”
For a slot on 23rd or 24th, you’ll have to fill your basket to a minimum spend of £90. If you have managed to secure a delivery slot on 24th December, you have until 11.30pm on 22nd to make any final changes to your order.
Waitrose
Waitrose is yet to respond to our request, but in mid-November, the supermarket tweeted: “Our delivery slots become available about three months before the delivery date. Many of our Christmas slots are already booked up.”
Morrisons
Over at Morrisons, you’ll need to book a slot by 19th December if you want to receive your food before the final delivery day of 24th December. Slots are still available, but you might want to get in there fast. If you reserve a 24th December slot, you have until the 21st to amend your order.
HuffPost UK has also contacted Asda about its delivery slots and will update this piece when we receive a response.