No more pavlovas! Queues outside stores as Kiwis prepare for Christmas lunch

Kiwis who are just writing their Christmas lunch shopping lists may want to move quickly as festive classics fly off the shelves across Aotearoa.

At 8.30am today queues had already formed in front of Grey Lynn food store Farro.

Chief executive Bryce Howard says it's their strongest year yet.

"It's the biggest sale day in the history of the company – our Christmas seasonal line is selling really fast, so things like Christmas cakes and pavlovas."

He says anyone looking to make pavlova will have to do it the hard way, as Farro Fresh has pretty much sold out of all its pre-made ones.

A queue had formed outside Farro by 8.30am this morning. Photo / Supplied

"There may be one or two in some stores, but things like cherries, strawberries – everything that goes on it - is selling fast too."

It's good news for traditionalists – the Christmas classics of ham and turkey are still available, but steak is going quickly. For the pescatarians, salmon is in high supply too.

Howard says he's thrilled by how many people are coming in, and it's good news for staff to.

"They're just stunned by how busy we are, and how kind all the customers are after what's been a really hard year."

Foodstuff's corporate affairs manager Emma Wooster says staff at their stores have been run off their feet getting ready for the festive season, and sales of brie and camembert had tripling in the past two weeks.

All of the usual suspects have been flying off the shelves too; blueberries, sweetcorn, New Zealand lamb and gifting chocolates have seen the biggest uplift in sales in the past few days.

"When the doors close tonight, we're on track to have sold over a million corn on the cob over the last couple of weeks across Pak'nSave, New World and Four Square stores in the North Island," she said.

"That's the equivalent of 57 ears of sweetcorn every second!"

Wooster says seasonal treats are proving popular too, and Pams' new affordable luxury Christmas range is selling like hotcakes.

"The Pams Finest Mini Spiced Apple & Caramel Tarts are proving extremely popular in the Wooster household!"