STORY: BIRDS UNCOVERS FESTIVE SHOPPING HABITS

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR - BIRDS BAKERY UNCOVERS FOOD SHOPPING HABITS DURING THE FESTIVE PERIOD

Indulging your sweet tooth during the festive season guarantees a rush of instant happiness, courtesy of dopamine - the ultimate feel-good chemical. But have you ever wondered why we splurge on these treats, particularly around Christmas? The experts at Birds Bakery have delved into the habits of Brits, exploring why we surrender to temptation and indulge ourselves even more during this period.

Christmas is the time of year enjoying little luxuries, whether that’s shopping, spending time with loved ones, or enjoying copious amounts of food and drink. 

However, treating ourselves isn't limited to December alone. A 2023 study carried out by YouGov revealed that approximately 37% of Brits buy something sweet, such as chocolate or cake, at least once or twice a week. These stats highlight that whilst our intake may increase significantly at certain times of the year, we just can’t resist sugary food when we need a pick-me-up.

To meet the demand during the busiest time of the year, Birds Bakery will be making over 500,000 Christmas products this year, which includes 350,000 mince pies. The classic mince pie took the title of the nation’s favourite sweet pie last year, and enjoying them was listed as one of the most magical parts of Christmas, so it’s no surprise demand is so high.

As a bakery with over 100 years of experience, Birds has seen the rise and fall of bakery trends first hand. Lesley Bird, chief operating officer at Birds Bakery, commented: 

“The bakery market is constantly evolving, but one trend we’ve noticed year on year is that people love to treat themselves and others. Like other retailers, we like to introduce seasonal product ranges alongside our classics, as we know our customers love a themed item - be it Christmas, Easter or Halloween. 

“This year our Christmas range includes a whole host of festive goods including chocolate Santas, Rudolph cupcakes and shortbread trees, which we’re delighted to see customers already enjoying.

“We are excited to welcome both new and regular customers to our shops this Christmas, and hope they continue to treat themselves throughout the year. We all need that sweet boost every so often!”

To find out more about Birds Bakery and its 61 stores, visit https://birdsbakery.com/stores.