Retailers try to keep us sweet in Christmas run-up

No, not turkey and ham — the items that retailers spent the most effort trying to flog in the run-up to last Christmas were biscuits and sweets.

A study carried out by retail magazine Checkout and OBK Accountants found that confectionery, biscuits, and crisps/snacks were the ‘most promoted’ categories of food by shops in the Christmas rush.

The report, which examines the brands and product categories that appeared most in publicly available retailer material in the final quarter of last year, found that, after confectionery, biscuits, and crisps/snacks, carbonated soft drinks were the fourth most promoted item, followed by frozen meat/fish/chicken and yogurts/desserts.