East Yorkshire sees ‘bonkers’ sales during lockdown

Owners brothers Richard and Russell Hall, who completed a re-fit of the 3,000sq ft store last year, aspired to increase sales following the investment and set a target to increase weekly sales by around 30% per week.

However, since the pandemic took hold sales have boomed, with weekly sales are up between 50% and 90% year-on-year.

Russell Hall said: “We had been planning for gradual growth, but when Covid hit, it just went bang. At first, we expected it to be really busy for two or three weeks, but it has just not slowed down at all. It really has been bonkers with stock coming in every day and literally going straight back out.”

The family store, which first opened in 1995, has seen footfall increase by up to 90% over the past four months. The retailers said the chill range has done well with fruit and vegetables, as well as protein sales soaring, and more than 1,000 cases of bedding plants were also snapped up by shoppers.

Russell Hall added: “We have been extremely busy, and I think that beyond Covid, while it will drop a bit closer to more normal levels, we will retain some of the extra business.”