Hot weather, the FIFA World Cup and more consumers spending time at home helped shape grocery shopping behaviour over summer 2026, according to new analysis from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD).

The grocery insight body said the combination of late kick-offs and extreme heat resulted in consumers hosting World Cup viewing events at home. This increased demand for cooling, convenience-led food and drink products.

IGD found that 70 per cent of shoppers followed this year’s World Cup, ahead of the 59 per cent who had initially planned to do so.

However, the tournament was also affected by heatwave conditions. IGD said 33 per cent of shoppers reported that hot weather changed how they celebrated the World Cup. Over half (54 per cent) stayed at home more than usual because of the heat.

The shift supported demand for products associated with staying cool, with 67 per cent of shoppers avoiding cooking in the heat. Ice cream, soft drinks, salads and chilled sides were among the boosted categories.

Annie McGoff, analyst at IGD, explained: “These findings emphasise the importance of building flexibility into seasonal plans. While the World Cup is over, extreme weather is likely to continue.

“Suppliers must adapt to how it reshapes behaviour. When temperatures move beyond comfortable levels, shoppers will continue to value convenience, hydration and keeping cool over traditional summer hosting occasions.”

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The impact was particularly significant for convenience stores, where summer trading is a major sales opportunity and hot weather can drive impulse purchases and higher demand from shoppers visiting day-trip locations.

IGD stressed that convenience retailers were well placed to benefit from these conditions because stores are often located close to residential areas, travel routes and leisure destinations where shoppers make quick top-up or on-the-go purchases.

Hot weather also created pressure on availability, particularly across soft drinks, chilled products, ice cream, food-to-go and other impulse categories.

The group said suppliers and retailers needed to ensure convenience routes to market were able to respond quickly during sharp increases in demand, including through cash-and-carry and wholesale channels used by smaller stores.

Pack sizes and product formats were also highlighted as important factors, with hot-weather convenience trade often centred on immediate consumption and on-the-go occasions.

Patrick Mitchell-Fox, IGD insight partner, added: “In the absence of big events, don’t neglect smaller, or more local, opportunities such as the many music festivals that can create seasonal ‘hot spots’ for trade across the country.”