Asda, Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are among the supermarket retailers to release the final dates shoppers will need to book a delivery slot for in time for Christmas.
With the festive season fast approaching, many have already started to order food and drinks for the big day.
This year, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the second national lockdown taking us right up to the beginning of December, some companies and retail bodies are predicting a huge surge in present buying as shops reopen, which is why they are advising public to think ahead and order their Christmas shopping in advance as a means of keeping everyone safe.
But what about the festive food shop? What is the final cut off date for ordering the Christmas feast ahead of the big day?
A number of major UK supermarket retailers have already released their last chance order dates, along with publishing advice for shoppers hoping to stock up for Christmas in a COVID-safe manner.
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Here’s everything you need to know.
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Asda
In order to prepare in advance, Asda has already opened its Christmas Delivery Slots a little earlier than usual this year, so you’ll need to act quick if you want to get yours booked in as unsurprisingly, some time slots on 20th – 24th December are already fully booked.
Those who are unable to secure a home delivery slot for the date they want can still order online to Click & Collect in store for their chosen dates.
Delivery costs £3 for orders less than £40, and £3 for Click & Collect orders under £25.
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For customers with a Asda Delivery Pass however, delivery is priced between £3 and £5.50 depending on the day and time of the slot.
You can find more information via the Asda website here.
Aldi
Aldi has confirmed its newly-launched home delivery service will include Christmas slots, however those hoping to stock up on festive essentials won’t be able to place a food order until nearer the big day itself.
Shoppers can place food orders from 19th December.
The last date for a standard Christmas delivery is 16th December, but Aldi does also offer a Next Day Delivery option available right up until 21st December.
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You can find more information via the Aldi website here.
Sainsbury’s
While the Sainsbury’s delivery service is closed between 24th – 26th December, the supermarket retailer has already released the cut-off dates for Christmas slots:
Book your slot from 29th November (for delivery on 20th December)
Book your slot from 30th November (for delivery on 21st December)
Book your slot from 1st December (for delivery on 22nd December)
Book your slot from 2nd December (for delivery on 23rd December)
There’s a minimum order value of £25.
Sainsbury’s charges £7 for delivery orders under £40, and between 50p and £7 for orders worth more, depending on the time slot you choose, and delivery is free for orders over £100 booked between Monday – Thursday after 2pm.
You can find more information via the Sainsbury’s website here.
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Tesco
In order to prepare for the festive season, Tesco has increased the number of its delivery slots from 600,000 to 1.5 million a week – which is more than double what was available at the start of lockdown – and those who are signed up to the chain’s Delivery Saver Scheme are now already able to book their Christmas delivery slot.
For regular customers, festive slots will be available at 7am on 20th November.
If home delivery isn’t an option for you, then Tesco also offers a Click & Collect service for those who want to avoid the store crowds.
You can find more information via the Tesco website here.
Morrisons
Morrisons has released information on its website for shoppers ahead of the Christmas period.
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Christmas orders at Morrisons must be placed before 5pm on 15th December for delivery on 22nd, 23rd and 24th December, and those who opt for Click & Collect can pick up their items in store between 22nd – 24th December, but orders need to be placed by 10pm on 15th December.
You can find more information via the Morrisons website here.
Iceland
Iceland has also opened Christmas Delivery Slots for any date up to 24th December.
The leading frozen foods supermarket chain is offering customers free delivery for all orders over £35, and it also offers an in-store Same Day delivery service – which is free when you spend £25 or more – available until Christmas eve.
You can find more information via the Iceland website here.
Trending
Oldham mansion that starred in an iconic pop music video is up for sale
Thomas Melia
A Greater Manchester mansion that’s featured in one of the most famous music videos of the past decade is now up for sale.
Situated in the picturesque village of Uppermill, Oldham, Ashcroft House is currently listed at £2,350,000 accepting offers in the region of this figure.
The property has six bedrooms, six baths and five reception rooms – this mansion is a party host’s dream.
Ashcroft House has four storeys with the lower ground floor currently set up as a gym space and the ground floor boasting an eye-catching grand entrance hall.
This isn’t everything the lower ground floor has to offer. There are a number of breakout rooms such as a wine store, cinema room and your own personal steam room.
When going up another flight of stairs, the first floor’s main selling point besides the very large balcony is the matched walk in wardrobes paired with each of the six sleeping quarters, yes please!
The girls styling themselves in one of the many walk in wardrobes at Ashcroft House.The bold statement front door in the Oldham mansion.Credit: Youtube (@littlemix)
Finally, if that wasn’t enough to draw you in, there is another flight of stairs leading to the second floor which is currently acting as the house’s ever-impressive storage area.
With the rolling hills of Saddleworth nearby and a local pub a ten minute walk away, how could life possibly get any better?
Oh wait it does! In 2016 one of the UK’s best selling girl groups of all time shot a music video for their worldwide hit right here in these very four walls.
X Factor prodigies and three time BRIT award winning girl group Little Mix perched up with their film crew to spend 21 hours recording the video for their groundbreaking single ‘Hair’.
The video itself has amassed nearly 500 million views on social media platform Youtube since being released eight years ago.
The grand staircase that greets you as you enter this Greater Manchester property.The Little Mix girls having a bite to eat in Ashcroft House.Credit: Youtube (@littlemix)
The previous owner of the house even revealed that once the music video shoot wrapped up, the girls stayed with the family to share a slice of pizza or two.
If you’re interested in owning a piece of pop culture history or just as nosey as we are you can take a virtual tour of this mansion in Oldham here.
People are finally discovering this super easy money-saving food hack
Danny Jones
These days, pinching the pennies and protecting the pounds wherever you can is more important than ever, so we have no intention of gatekeeping this game-changing itsu food hack.
For the longest time, we’ll admit that we thought itsu was just another good place to grab some fresh sushi, Asian-inspired meals and groceries, but after learning of this clever little loophole, it’s probably up there with one of our very favourite chains.
Starting out in London back in the late 90s, itsu has gone on to become a huge franchise with nearly 80 locations nationwide and, naturally, the risk that comes with a food brand getting this big is the almost unavoidable problem of waste.
However, what was once just a conveyor belt in Chelsea has turned into a super-efficient restaurant and fully established food brand that has also come up with a great way to not only help stop food from going to waste but save you money in the process too.
itsu Manchester on 1 Hardman Blvd, Spinningfields.itsu prices aren’t pretty decent to start with given the quality.We’re all about food hacks and cutting back the budget wherever we can. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Put quite simply, because itsu would quite rightly rather see food go in your gob than in the bin, they have a discount policy on their products that are about to go out of date.
Think Too Good To Go only more specific and with even more money off guaranteed.
Once the clock hits a certain time towards the end of trading hours, sushi, salad boxes and other cold food items can be purchased at 50% off their usual price to help save money and on food spoiling.
No, we’re not having you on: each and EVERY single day you can get highly-quality itsu sushi selection platters, rice and salad boxes, poke bowls and more at literally half-price. You can see the full details in their FAQs.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a random work night or a peckish walk home from the pub on the weekend, provided you go after 8:30pm and get there before they shut, you can grab some of your favourites at essentially a two-for-one rate. Sensational stuff.
You don’t even have to download an app, go up to the counter and have any kind of awkward conversation or anything like that: the digital pay screens will automatically update once the click strikes cha-ching and you can saunter out of the gaff with your scran.
Half price itsu? Don’t mind if we do.50% off itsu every night.Always leave looking this happy.Get your hands on half-price itsu whenever you can with this simple hack. (Credit: The Manc Group)
We’ll be honest, we often end up getting double the amount we came for but who can blame us with a value-for-money offer like that? There’s also a 15% discount for students and NHS workers, by the way.
We know that might sound counter-intuitive when we’ve pitched this as a money-saving life hack, but it’s actually come in handy when grabbing not just a last-minute tea for ourselves but hungry flatmates too; plus we go home knowing we’ve done our little bit to help reduce waste.
Eating out can get super expensive, especially in Manchester city centre during a cost of living crisis, but let’s face it, we all fancy a treat sometimes and the thought of cooking is too tiring to even think about – that’s what makes stumbling upon little happy discoveries like these makes so great.
Now, we’re not going to pretend you’re the first people to know about this: the ‘secret’ is out and is gradually getting more and more popular, so you’ll almost certainly find a fair few people queuing up with the same idea come 8:30pm, but that’s kind of the idea. The more we spread the news, the less waste.
itsu Spinningfields is currently the only branch in Manchester (the first-ever Northern site to be opened by the brand back in 2016) but if you need some discounted food whilst you’re travelling around, you can find your nearest location HERE. Enjoy!
The Manc -
13th November 2020 
