British shoppers are being encouraged to "be prepared" for food and drink shortages this Christmas, with the potential rise of COVID-19 over the winter posing a threat to supermarket staff and delivery drivers.
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Though we would never encourage panic buying, many of us may opt to do our Christmas food shopping online this year in a bid to get ahead of the manic food shop over the festive period - and more importantly, being prepared means more time enjoying your favourite festive foods.
The major British supermarkets all have different dates and information regarding their festive delivery services, so it can be tricky working out which store is the best option for you.
We've compiled a helpful guide to all the top supermarkets this Christmas: see when to order your food and how their systems work below…
Tesco
Christmas Delivery slots have now opened for Tesco. Tesco's Delivery Saver scheme can book their slots from 6am on 16 November, while slots for non-Delivery Saver customers were made& available from 6am on 23 November.
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It costs £6.99 a month to become a Delivery Saver, and gives customers free delivery on groceries (with a minimum spend) and priority access to prime time slots.
Alternatively, you can book a click-and-collect slot, but these are only available up to three weeks in advance. Keep up to date with the latest news on their website.
Sainsbury's
Like many supermarkets, Sainsbury’s Christmas delivery aren''t yet available for booking, but they are set to go live on Tuesday 30 November.
Shoppers can get priority booking over the festive season with Sainsbury's Delivery Pass, with prices starting at £10 for three months.
Sainsbury's has told shoppers to get all Christmas food orders in by midnight, 16 December to guarantee delivery.
The chain has expanded their contactless Click & Collect service to over 300 locations and recommend this service if you find their Christmas delivery slots are booked up.
Asda
Though Aldi doesn't offer a grocery delivery service, the supermarket is now selling much of its Christmas food - and offers a Click + Collect service for online shoppers.
Its Christmas hampers are available to pre-order now for delivery before Christmas. For in-store shopping, Aldi's Christmas calendar shows when items are due to be available in shops. While mince pies have been available since 26 September, you’ll have to wait until 19 December for its Christmas turkeys.
Morrisons
Christmas food orders for delivery are currently available on Morrisons' website.
Delivery Pass holders can book two deliveries between 20 and 24 December. Demand is high, so the supermarket has advised customers to keep checking Twitter to see when new slots have been released.
Ocado
Unfortunately, Ocado's Christmas delivery slots have now sold out.
If more become available, the Ocado website will release them in early December, but they state they can’t guarantee this. If they do become available, the Christmas slot booking button will reappear.
Some of Ocado's Christmas products are only available for delivery during Christmas week (20–24 December). The website states that customers will only see them as 'in stock' if you’re adding to, or editing a Christmas order, or adding to a non-Christmas order in late November/early December.
Smart Pass holders had priority access to Christmas slots and Ocado informed these customers about this in October.
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Aldi
Though Aldi doesn't offer a grocery delivery service, the supermarket is now selling much of its Christmas food - and offers a Click + Collect service for online shoppers.
Its Christmas hampers are available to pre-order now for delivery before Christmas. For in-store shopping, Aldi's Christmas calendar shows when items are due to be available in shops.
While many festive favourites like Christmas chocolate and mince pies are already in store, Christmas turkeys won't be on the shelves until 19 December.
M&S
Unfortunately, Marks and Spencer has announced that their Christmas food delivery service has proved so popular this year, it's completely sold out. Customers can still find all the M&S Food in their local Foodhalls with many new products in store now and fresh festive lines, like turkeys and Christmas desserts, being added throughout November and December.
Christmas Food to Order collection is available from the majority of their UK stores and is free of charge. Home delivery is not available.
Waitrose
Waitrose Christmas food delivery slots have already opened, with more dates set to be released soon for Waitrose Entertaining.
Alternatively, shoppers can collect in-store with no minimum spend, or get free delivery when they spend £40 or more online.
Waitrose also offers a convenient Christmas Food Made to Order service.
Festive food favourites can either be ordered as a standalone order or as part of a grocery order with everyday items, although Waitrose recommend keeping them separate if possible as delivery or collection times vary for Food Made to Order products depending on the time they need to prepare them.
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Iceland
Iceland customers will have to wait until the last minute to book their Christmas delivery slot, with 600,000 up for grabs.
Deliveries can be ordered for dates up to and including 24 December. But be warned, its delivery slots are only open six days in advance of the delivery date.
The supermarket has confirmed there are still slots available from 17 December until 20 December.
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