Sainsbury's has opened its Christmas food delivery slots to all shoppers from today (Friday, October 23), as supermarkets gear up for one of their busiest periods of the year. With Christmas just over two months away, customers looking to avoid the last-minute rush can now secure their festive food shop early.
The supermarket has made Christmas delivery bookings available to all customers today, following a week of early access for those holding a Delivery Pass. Shoppers can select delivery dates between Friday, December 18 and Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, although slots are subject to availability. The most popular dates are expected to fill quickly, so booking sooner rather than later is advised.
Booking flexibility and charges
According to MoneySavingExpert, customers do not need to have their entire Christmas shopping list ready when they book. They can secure a delivery slot with just a few items in their basket and make changes later. Sainsbury's allows shoppers to amend their orders until 11pm on the day before their scheduled delivery, meaning items can be added or quantities changed as Christmas approaches.
Shoppers should also check delivery charges before booking. Customers with a Sainsbury's Delivery Pass must spend at least £50 to qualify for free delivery. Those without a pass will typically pay between £1 and £6 for delivery on orders over £50. For smaller orders, the supermarket charges £7.50 for next-day delivery or £9.50 for same-day delivery.
Pass options and Click & Collect
Sainsbury's offers an Anytime Delivery Pass costing £7.50 a month, £43 for six months, or £80 for a year. There is also a Midweek Delivery Pass costing £4 a month or £40 annually, covering eligible deliveries between Tuesday and Thursday. Christmas Click & Collect slots are also available to book from today, with collections starting on December 18.
MoneySavingExpert has advised shoppers to check minimum spending requirements and delivery charges before choosing a slot, and to book early, as waiting until December could mean missing out on a preferred delivery date.
Other supermarkets' timelines
Other major supermarkets have already begun taking Christmas bookings. Asda opened its festive delivery slots to all customers on October 20, while Morrisons and Waitrose are also accepting bookings. Tesco customers will have to wait longer, with its Christmas delivery slots opening at 6am on November 3 for eligible Delivery Saver and Click+Collect customers, followed by general bookings at 6am on November 5.
For Sainsbury's shoppers, Christmas delivery bookings are now open to everyone.
