Pies get healthy slice of sales

COMFORT food appears to have been on the menu during the Covid19 lockdown.

Demand for Jimmy’s Pies went ‘‘crazy’’ just prior to lockdown but then was ‘‘just dead’’ for the first week, general manager Bernard Kirkpatrick said.

The business had got increasingly busy since then and he now reckoned revenue was probably only about 20% down on normal. It was fortunate it could still supply supermarkets.

The retail shop in Roxburgh was closed at the moment, but 15 of the company’s 25 staff were still working.

One thing that had stood out throughout the lockdown was how good the business’ staff were, Mr Kirkpatrick said.

As far as sourcing supplies during the period, there had been a ‘‘couple of close calls’’ getting cardboard and ink for the dating system, he said. Meanwhile, sales at supermarkets across the country increased by more than 27% in the four weeks of Alert Level 4 lockdown ending April 19.

Nielsen’s Scantrack sales data shows grocery items across all categories were up significantly during the month of the strictest Covid19 restrictions, compared with the correponding period a year earlier.

Sales of boxed hair dyes — once on the decline — increased by more than 100% over the four weeks compared with the corresponding period last year, while home brewing kits and concentrates increased by 94%.

Sales of cleaning products, supplies and disinfectants increased by almost 70%.

Baking products such as eggs, butter, flour, sugar, baking powder and cooking chocolate experienced a 53% increase, while canned and convenience foods such as soups and frozen meals sales increased by 64%.

However, there were a few categories whose sales fared less well over that time.

Hairstyling products were one of the few grocery products to experience a decline in the first four weeks of lockdown; their sales decreased by 36%, likely because leaving the house over that time was restricted to essential outings such as trips to the supermarket and visits to the doctor or dentist.

— Additional reporting The

New Zealand Herald