Heatwave-hit Britons rush to buy fans, rosé wine and ice-cream

theguardian.com:

Sales of rosé, ice-creams and fans are soaring as the UK prepares for a sweltering weekend and expected record temperatures on Monday and Tuesday.

Off licence Majestic Wine said sales of the pink wine were up 49% this week compared with last week as temperatures soared above 26C, the level the retailer has pinpointed as the moment we reach for the rosé.

Rosé outsold white and red wines by more than 172,000 bottles this week reaching sales of one bottle every 12 seconds amid the hot temperatures.

Grocery chain Aldi is preparing for another bumper weekend after selling more rosé wine last week than any other weekend over the last 12 months.

Ice-cream sales are also soaring, up 150% last week on the same week last year. The discounter said online sales of electric fans were up by more than 5,000% while paddling pools and deodorant sales had reached record heights.

Families are making preparations as the UK government issued its first ever national emergency red alert for heat ahead of expected record temperatures on Monday and Tuesday with the hottest areas set to be in central and eastern England.

The UK Health Security Agency increased the “heat-health warning” alert for England to level 4 – the highest possible for the first two days of next week when the Met Office has forecast 40C for the first time.

Online grocery specialist Ocado said ice-cream and ice-lollies were topping its online searches this week – with the number of shoppers seeking a lolly doubling. Searches for dog ice-cream were up 87% as ideas to keep pets cool were also in demand.

Searches for barbecue food and meat more than doubled as the UK prepares to relax with some outdoor dining.

Lisa McDowell, the brand director of Ocado Retail, said: “This weekend is set