Brits are set to spend majorly ahead of the long weekend at grocery retailers, according to the latest figures from intelligence payment platform Zilch.

Last year the spend on the Friday before the bank holiday reached over £1.7m, which was 40 per cent higher than the average daily spend.

Zilch anticipates that grocery retailers could see a boost in sales in the upcoming period as shoppers “stock up” on items.

The payment platform collects data from thousands of retailers, including Tesco, Asda, Iceland, Morrisons and Dunelm, which is based on transaction spending across major grocery merchants.

The Home & DIY purchases usually peak later than groceries, falling on Saturday rather than Friday, which is reflected in an 8 per cent increase in 2025 after a growth of 10 per cent in 2024.

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Chief revenue officer at Zilch, Andreas Andreou, said: “What’s striking in our data isn’t just that spending rises ahead of Bank Holidays – it’s how purposeful that behaviour is.

“Grocery shoppers are front-loading their spend on the Friday, stocking up for BBQs and hosting, while DIY purchases reflect a longer-term mindset of people planning projects and making the most of the extra day. For retailers in both categories, this is a predictable, high-intent window.”

The analysis group estimates that households are set to boost grocery spend as they stock up for BBQs, picnics and hosting over the weekend.

This year’s warmer weather and forecast will make shoppers compelled to host more social gatherings and undertake DIY projects, according to the data.