A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman confirmed the UK’s second-largest grocer would be extending opening hours from 6am until midnight in “the vast majority” of its stores from December 21 to 23. 

The grocers join a growing list of non-essential retailers such as Primark, which are looking at extending opening hours in the three weeks after stores reopen on December 2 and Christmas Day. 

On Christmas Eve, most Sainsbury’s stores will be open from 6am to 7pm and she said it had taken the decision to extend opening hours to give “our customers more time to shop safely with us”.