Aldi has introduced 'broomstick parking bays' at its Water Lane store in York, following research that crowned the city the UK's 'spookiest city'. The supermarket chain says budding witches and wizards can use the specially-designed racks to secure their brooms while shopping.
Themed vinyl flooring and eerie signage complement the bays, offering customers an unconventional way to gather their Halloween necessities. The feature follows Aldi research that found over one in four Britons (28%) consider York the most haunted spot in the nation.
A Halloween shopping experience
The enchanting bay will remain accessible to visitors until October 31, adding Halloween enchantment to a routine shopping trip. Aldi reports that customers and youngsters who have encountered it are already thrilled by the feature.
The supermarket's survey of 2,000 individuals revealed how enthusiastically the country is embracing the frightening season. An impressive 84% of Britons say they relish celebrating Halloween, while the typical person intends to participate in at least two Halloween occasions or pursuits this year.
Halloween spending on the rise
A notable three in five (66%) say they are adorning their homes throughout October, demonstrating Halloween is no longer merely a single-evening event. However, with numerous spooky festivities in the diary, the expense of entering into the Halloween mood can quickly mount up.
Polling revealed 83% agreed Halloween has grown too costly in recent years, with Britons spending an average of £50 celebrating this year. Halloween costumes topped the list of expenditure (23%), followed by sweets and treats for trick or treaters (22%), decorations (12%), Halloween food and drinks (9%) and pumpkins (7%).
Seasonal activities and value
A substantial four in five (81%) Britons intend to spend money on seasonal activities and experiences this year, with pumpkin picking (48%) claiming the number one position. This is followed by visits to themed amusement parks (27%), spooky cinema screenings (27%), ghost tours (25%), and immersive fright nights (24%).
The study also uncovered that numerous spooky celebrations will be happening nationwide, as four in ten (40%) Britons intend to host a Halloween party and 63% plan to attend one. Additionally, one in five (23%) are even preparing two separate outfits for Halloween.
With the typical Brit expected to spend £65 on hosting, four in five (84%) state that securing good value for money is extremely important when purchasing for the season. Aldi maintains it is helping customers prepare for fright night without the frightening price tag.
They stock everything from Halloween inflatables (£9.99) and large spiderwebs (£7.99) to party food such as the creepy breaded chicken bats (£2.99) and gruesomely spooky sliders (£5.99). Customers can also discover Aldi's Halloween sweet tubs (£3.69), chocolate bats (£1.99, 100g) and chocolate lollies (£2.69). Pumpkins reportedly begin from as little as 35p, which is claimed to be more affordable than any other UK supermarket.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: "Halloween is all about a little surprise and magic. That's why we are delighted to give shoppers at the Water Lane store in York something they won't expect to see on their Aldi trip - a dedicated parking space for broomsticks. Complete with its own rack and spooky signage, it's a spellbinding way to welcome witches and wizards while they stock up on frightfully good value Halloween favourites."
Aldi's broomstick parking bay will remain on display at the Water Lane branch in York through to October 31, while their Halloween collection is currently in shops.
