Shoppers opt for casseroles and soup as rainy summertime blues kick in

IRISH shoppers are loading up their baskets with the kinds of comfort food they normally buy in winter — all because of the wet and miserable summer weather.

Sales of soup, casserole beef and stock cubes have increased by up to 30% in supermarkets as shoppers shun salad, summer fruits and barbecue meats.

“In the last week we’ve seen a significant shift in what our customers are buying,” said Tesco spokesman Séamus Banim.

“This prolonged spell of bad weather is showing the kind of purchasing patterns we normally see in September rather than a hot July.”

Tesco is Ireland’s biggest grocery supermarket, with 95 stores across the Republic and has seen a drop in sales of the kinds of food it would normally expect over summer.

Instead, sales of soup — a traditional winter warmer — are up 25% on July 2006, which the chain said was unprecedented, while demand for stock cubes and gravy is 30% ahead of expectations.

Sales of home entertainment goods like televisions and children’s DVD films are also up, as are kettles and toasters used to make warm snacks and drinks.

Tesco said these kinds of products are usually more popular in autumn when householders head indoors after spending the summer outside.

In the gardening section, sales of slug pellets are up 30% as gardeners seek to deter slugs, which love the wet weather.

Staff have also seen demand for indoor games and travel toys outstrip sales of outdoor gear like paddling pools and frisbees, indicating children’s summer holidays are being affected by the rain.

“It’s no coincidence that the school holidays have just begun and these sales figures show children are spending more time indoors because of the weather,” said Mr Banim.

“Sales of sweets and chocolate are also up, indicating perhaps that people are comfort-eating to beat the summertime blues.”

Last month was one of the wettest in 50 years in Ireland, with places like Kilkenny getting more than three times the average rainfall for the month.

Met Éireann’s forecast shows the miserable weather will continue into next week with temperatures as low as 13C and more rain.

Tomorrow’s heavy showers will give way to sunny spells early on Saturday but rain will spread later in the day.

More rain is predicted for Sunday, though some bright or sunny spells are also likely.

Forecasters say the unsettled weather will continue for up to a week.