Lidl, Morrisons and Tesco shelves empty as shoppers…

Lidl, Morrisons and Tesco shelves empty as shoppers snap up water and ice cream

Supermarket shelves usually packed full of bottled water were almost stripped completely bare as the second day of the heatwave stuck.

Sales of fans, ice cream, paddling pools and burgers rocketed as the heatwave sparked a spending spree on summer essentials. Waitrose has had its biggest week for ice creams, with sales up 36% year on year, while John Lewis's sales of fans and air conditioning units are up 709% year on year.

Asda sold at least 4.5 million sausages and 1.4 million burgers last week, while charcoal sales increased by 400%. Sales of ready-to-drink spirits in Asda were up 72% compared to an average week, while fan sales increased by 1,300%.

Asda said its paddling pool range saw sales increase by 1,000% compared to the same time the previous week. Waitrose said sales of premium ice cream are up 45% year-on-year.

Morrisons said last week was its biggest week for ice cream sales in more than five years, while bags of ice are up 50% year on year. On Friday, pool sales lifted 814% at Argos compared to the previous Friday, while fans and aircon sales at Argos were up a total of 698% last week versus the week before and up 319% versus the same week in 2021.

Empty ice and ice cream shelves at a Lidl (SWNS)

And last week, Sainsbury's suncare sales had their best ever week, up 115% versus the same time last year. However, as a result of the increased sales, shelves have been left empty.

In Liverpool, one shopper said he was unable to purchase deodorant or water at his local Home Bargains. Across the UK, Lidl and Tesco stores had also been raided by thirsty shoppers.

Pictures show shelves of water and fridges, usually full of lolly ices and ice cream, empty. Taking to Twitter, one shopper, Gail, tweeted: "Went to Asda yesterday and loads of the shelves were empty."