Ocado Group PLC (LON:OCDO) said the cold May weather, which has hampered post-lockdown recovery in the high street, has lifted customer demand for comfort food.
Searches for hotpots rocketed 176% last month, while fresh soup and casserole were both up 84%, in contrast with last year’s popularity of barbecue items.
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In fact, sun cream and ice lollies searches were down 67% and 51% respectively, the Evening Standard reported.
This unusual shopping trend is expected to reverse in the coming weeks, as the UK is finally seeing a rise in temperatures.
Shops, bars and restaurants are also looking forward to better weather after high street footfall fell by 27.5% last month compared to May 2019, according to analysis by Springboard.
Although shops reopened on 12 April and indoor dining was allowed again from 17 May, the miserable weather meant Britons preferred to stay home.
The limitations on indoor capacity in bars and restaurants also affected footfall, the BBC reported.
Shares in Ocado were flat at 1,849p on Thursday late morning.