When are supermarket shelves fullest?

Elan · 3 February 2015 at 8:40AM

Especially Morrison and Asda. I have the habit of going to the supermarkets on days and times when the stock is low so end up buying other stuff rather than what I originally want. Do you know what days and times you're most guaranteed to find the shelves at their fullest? When do they get deliveries or restock - stack their shelves?

torbrex · 3 February 2015 at 8:57AM

Mornings are best as they have been filling the shelves all night, if there is an instore bakery their shelves might need an extra hour for full stock but if you get there at 9am you should get most things.

wiogs · 3 February 2015 at 9:15AM

My local Tesco starts stocking about 10pm so if you go in about 1am it is pretty full of things.

Waitrose near me seems to be best abut 11am.

jon81uk · 3 February 2015 at 10:31AM

Most big stores fill shelves overnight (so deliveries arrive in the evening ready to go out after 10pm).

Waitrose and smaller stores fill shelves all day so it would be harder to say.

skivenov · 3 February 2015 at 10:36AM

In a big store, generally

Ambient - first thing
Produce and fresh - early afternoon
Counters - mid morning
Bakery - late morning

rach_k · 3 February 2015 at 11:18AM

I know that my local Tesco is best at the weekend, but all branches can't get their deliveries at the same time or they'd have thousands of trucks doing one delivery a week (all on the same day) - they must stagger them. Probably best just to ask in your local stores.

Elan · 4 February 2015 at 10:28AM

From these answers my best bet is anywhere between morning time and early afternoon. I will give it a go, thanks for all your answers.

pinkteapot · 10 April 2015 at 12:55PM

My local Tesco, about 6:30am. Earlier than that and they're still filling the shelves.

bike_saving_expert · 26 April 2015 at 10:22PM

as a replen partner in waitrose i would say probaby saturday mornings due to case volumes on friday evenings

jenniewb · 26 April 2015 at 10:36PM

Many supermarket offers start on a Wednesday. Not every Wednesday but around once a month, when you work out which date this is I would have thought this would be the best day to try- however, many others are aware of this and will also likely shop on this day too, to find out what new offers are going so shop early on if possible. I'd say mid morning is best due to lack of people on their way to work, on their lunch break or pensioners and parents with children on the way home after school.

maman · 27 April 2015 at 12:27AM

I think it's likely that overnight restocking will be a casualty of the cutting back on staff that many SMs are making. Plus for customers is that there will be more staff to speak to in store.