barbecue

Britain’s balmy summer and the World Cup continue to drive fresh produce sales with Tesco predicting millions of berry punnets to fly off the shelves this week.

The supermarket is on track to offload one million punnets of blueberries, as shoppers seek out fruit in the hot weather, with the Wimbledon effect helping the retailer shift 2.5 million punnets of strawberries too.

Lettuce remains a popular summer staple, with four million bags of salad leaving the aisles this week, despite fears of shortages from British growers.

Tesco ice cream buying manager Sonia Morland said: “The all too rare combination of Mediterranean weather and England progressing to the last four of the World Cup has created a contagious feelgood factor that is sweeping the country.

“Many people have switched their shopping habits and are continuing to enjoy BBQs in their gardens, as they make the most of the fantastic weather.”