A new report indicates that 27% of Polish consumers plan to make their Easter food purchases in the days leading up to the holiday, a significant increase from last year.
Shifting Shopping Timelines
A recent report by UCE Research and Grupa Blix reveals a change in Polish consumer behavior regarding Easter shopping. 27% of respondents intend to purchase their Easter groceries in the last few days before Easter, nearly 6 percentage points more than the previous year.
The largest group of respondents, 29.6%, plan to buy Easter provisions a week before Easter, a slight increase from 29.1% last year. Conversely, those planning purchases in the final week before Easter rose to 27% from 21.2% in 2025.
Anticipated Increase in Store Traffic
Experts predict increased congestion in stores during the Easter period. The nearly 6 percentage point increase in last-minute shopping suggests larger queues than observed last year.
Impact of Promotions and Product Availability
Mateusz Dąbrowski of Grupa Blix noted that retail chains launch their largest promotional campaigns and provide the most information about offers during the week leading up to the pre-Easter Sunday trade. Consumers are increasingly aware of these promotions and product availability, leading them to make larger purchases during this period.
Fresh vs. Shelf-Stable Purchases
Julia Zagórowska of Grupa Blix highlighted that consumers primarily purchase fresh products – meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables – in the week before Easter, while stocking up on longer-lasting items earlier. This necessitates that retail chains ensure adequate stock and staffing to accommodate increased customer volume.
Decline in Early Shopping
The report also indicates a noticeable decline in the number of consumers shopping two weeks before Easter (down 5.8 percentage points) and a month in advance (down 7.1 percentage points). Experts believe this trend suggests consumers are increasingly planning purchases to take advantage of promotions and ensure access to the freshest products.
Zagórowska added that consumers are increasingly checking promotion information in apps, allowing them to anticipate the best deals and find fresh, seasonal products on store shelves.
Methodology
The UCE Research and Grupa Blix report, “Polish Purchasing Plans for Easter 2026,” is based on a survey conducted in the first and second weeks of March with a sample of 1089 people aged 18-75.
