Christmas is now just 10 weeks away, and for those who like to get ahead, the first date in the festive countdown is booking your grocery delivery slot.
It varies from supermarket to supermarket when the slots are released, but they are snapped up very quickly, so you'll need to know when to go online to secure one if you want your food for the holiday season delivered to your door. Ocado and Waitrose are already taking bookings, for example, while Tesco hasn't even announced when it's opening bookings, although it's usually next month.
Customers who pay for a delivery pass often get early access. For example, Sainsbury's Delivery Pass Pass shoppers have been given priority when booking a Christmas delivery slot. Most shops let you make an unlimited number of changes to your order by certain deadlines, so it pays top secure a slot with a few items and adding to it later on, but remember to make the changes and remember to checkout again when you do.
Read more: Shoppers 'gutted' as Tesco makes changes to its Clubcard scheme
Here's what has been announced so far:
Asda
Slots will open on 18 October for Delivery Pass customers and 25 October for everyone else. The days it will be delivering orders over the festive season has not been announced yet, but last year was up to and including 24 December.
Sainsbury's
Delivery Pass customers can book on 17 October for delivery between 18-21 December, on October 18 for delivery on 22 December, on 19 October for delivery on 23 December and on 20 October for delivery on 24 December. The bookings will then open for all customers on 24 October for delivery between 18-21 December, on 25 October for delivery on 22 December, on 26 October for delivery on 23 December and on 27 Oct for delivery on 24 December. Deliveries will be between 18-24 December.
Tesco
No announcement from Tesco yet. Bookings will likely open in November
Morrisons
No announcement from Morrisons yet.
Co-Op
Open to bookings five days before delivery up to and including 24 December
Iceland
No announcement yet
Aldi
Does not offer a food home delivery service
Lidl
Does not offer a food home delivery service
Marks and Spencer
Only offers collection service - open now
Ocado
Open now for Smart Pass customers, but no confirmed date for non-Smart Pass customers. Deliveries between 20 - 24 December
Waitrose
Slots Open now for delivery between 20 - 24 December
If you miss out on a delivery slot, stores may have more availability on their click and c ollect slots, although again you would be advised to book as soon as you can.
Here's what we know about booking a Christmas click and collect slot
Asda
Bookings open on 18 October for Delivery Pass customers and 25 October for everyone else. The dates and times you can collect have not been released yet.
Sainsbury's
Bookings for click and collect open on 27 November and you can collect between 18 - 24 December
Tesco
Dates have not yet been announced
Morrisons
Dates have not yet been announced
Marks and Spencer
Bookings open now for collection between 22 and 24 December
Waitrose
Bookings open now for collection between 20 and 24 December
Now read:
- Co-op sparks fury among shoppers for 'ridiculously' expensive £9.25 nine-pack of toilet roll
- Tesco Christmas toy sale for Clubcard customers offers gifts for less than £10
- Toys R Us returns to UK with new website selling thousands of toys in time for Christmas
- New junk food rules will see changes made at supermarkets
- Aldi shopper overcome by cashier's kindness as she steps in to help pay for OAP's shopping
