For many, the annual Christmas supermarket trip is a source of dread, synonymous with crowded aisles and frantic last-minute dashes. However, one journalist has uncovered a remarkably simple secret to transforming the experience into a calm and efficient mission.
The Midnight Revelation: An Empty Aisles Epiphany
Abigail Nicholson, a content editor who previously worked as a night reporter for the Liverpool ECHO, used to shudder at the thought of her pre-Christmas supermarket run. The chaos of packed stores, battling for trolley space, and jostling to check best-before dates was her idea of hell. Being too disorganised to book a delivery slot in advance, a store visit was her only option.
Her perspective changed completely while working late shifts. Following one shift, she visited her local 24-hour Asda at Sefton Park at around 1am and found the store almost empty. Staff were calmly stocking shelves with festive goods, offering a serene alternative to the daytime bedlam. Suspecting a fluke, she returned at the same time the following year and found the same peaceful scene. It has now become a yearly tradition for her and her fiancé.
A Step-by-Step Guide to the 1am Shop
Detailing her most recent visit, Abigail noted that upon arrival just after midnight, only around 20 vehicles were in the car park. While the Scan and Go screens were switched off due to the hour, every other aspect was in their favour.
First, she headed to the Christmas cards, finding shelves fully stocked—a welcome relief from the usual December crush in dedicated card shops. The Christmas decorations and toy section downstairs was accessible, though the upstairs area containing homeware, clothing, and most toys was cordoned off.
The real test came in the fresh produce and meat aisles. Contrary to fears of empty shelves after daytime rushes, everything was fully stocked with dates extending beyond Christmas Day. She easily found carrots, broccoli, sprouts, parsnips, turkey crowns, beef joints, ham, and legs of lamb. Staff outnumbered customers, cheerfully replenishing party food fridges and assuring her they had plenty of stock.
The Unbeatable Advantages of the Early Hours
The benefits of this unconventional timing were clear. The reduced section, often picked clean by day, offered first pickings of fresh meat and convenient meals for the slow days between Christmas and New Year. Throughout the entire shop, she encountered only about two dozen fellow shoppers who weren't staff members.
After a swift trip through the self-service checkouts—the only ones open—she was back home by 1.45am. The only minor inconveniences were navigating around staff stocking cages and the occasional box on the floor.
Abigail's verdict is emphatic: heading to a 24-hour Asda at 1am is a fantastic, stress-free strategy for the festive food shop. It's a method she plans to use for years to come, turning a dreaded chore into a quiet, productive, and even enjoyable yearly date.
