Just a few more days and then it’s Christmas. A special challenge is looming for consumers in 2021 because this year’s festive season falls on a weekend. We say when is the ideal time to shop stress-free at Aldi, Lidl, Rewe or Edeka – and when it is better to avoid the supermarkets.
The corona crisis is demanding a lot from consumers. The Omikron virus variant worries experts and German citizens. Those who encounter long queues when shopping are often unsettled. But there are ways to avoid these crowds.
This year, too, you should do your Christmas shopping in good time. Especially on Thursday (December 23) before Christmas Eve It could be in the supermarket branches, at the discounter or in the drugstore get full.
In principle, consumers do not need any vaccination or recovery certificates in the supermarket, at the discounter or in the drugstore. However, in some cases grocers may limit the number of customers.
In many counties there is an upper limit of one customer per 10 square meters of sales area. In addition, the mask requirement applies in the entire German retail trade.
Which rules apply at Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co.?
In view of the applicable hygiene regulations, shopping could become a stressful burden. The most important rules:
- Mandatory mouth and nose covering in the branch and on the entire property of the dealer – including in the parking lot,
- In many districts there are only a maximum of ten customers per 100 square meters of sales area in the branch.
- For branches that do not sell food and do not apply to the basic suppliers, the obligation to provide evidence applies. Customers must have recovered or have been vaccinated and have the relevant receipts with them.
At Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka, Hit, Kaufland, dm, Rossmann, Müller and Co. there is no obligation to provide evidence.
First wave of shopping for Christmas this weekend
Behind the scenes, the last few days before Christmas are seen as particularly strong. CHIP learned that Aldi Süd, Lidl, Netto Marken-Discount and others have even decided to block holidays in some cases.
“With a view to the coming Christmas holidays, we are well prepared. However, we still ask our customers to spread their purchases over the entire opening hours and, if necessary, over several days in order to avoid a large number of customers in our branches and to ensure compliance with the safety margin”, says the discounters on request.
When should I not go shopping?
The shops are usually open until December 23rd.
The majority of customers will stock up on groceries on December 23rd. The focus is on vegetables, fruit, spices and bread. Consumers typically start shopping two days before Christmas Eve. At Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co., it could get crowded in the evening hours, especially from Wednesday.
If you want to avoid crowds and long queues, you should go shopping between Monday morning and Wednesday morning.
Are there any food shortages at Christmas?
The supply of food is secured. There will be no food shortages either before, during or after Christmas. The press offices of the largest food retailers unanimously promise this upon request.
There are currently only a few bottlenecks for non-food items. So for clothing, decorative items, household goods and electronics.
What are the opening times at Christmas?
Most supermarkets and drugstores are open until 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve (December 24th).
There are regional differences, as the shop opening times are determined by the federal states. Consumers cannot go shopping at Christmas. Supermarkets such as Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Edeka, Rewe, Kaufland and Hit are closed on December 25th (Saturday) and December 26th (Sunday).
There are exceptions. Supermarkets and drug stores at train stations, airports or bus stations are usually open. They have a special permit because, for example, they can stock holidaymakers with travel provisions.
Petrol stations are also open over the Christmas period. Consumers can often buy milk, bread rolls or other staple foods there.
Why is shopping so stressful in the week before Christmas?
Overall, shopping during Christmas week can be stressful. Be prepared for longer strikes in front of the branch, in front of the cash registers or in the parking lot. Every consumer wants to get fresh groceries for Christmas. Those who cannot go shopping for three days because the shops are closed are often overwhelmed. This is another reason why shopping in the run-up to Christmas seems more stressful. In addition, there are many more people on the road.
If possible, avoid shopping with the whole family. Studies show that parents with children take much longer to shop and they even forget important purchases in the hustle and bustle. Given the entry restrictions and the upper limit, branches could also deny access to larger families.
Additional tip: To prevent stress, it can also help if you listen to your favorite music before you go shopping.