Have you noticed your first aid stock has been running low over the last couple of weeks?

Bandages have reportedly been flying off the shelves, but not because people are getting clumsier as the dark nights draw in earlier.

Read more: 'Numerous benefits': PDA steams ahead with Superdrug union recognition

According to Superdrug, the public are using them to create “the timeless ‘mummy’ costume for trick or treating”, with the multiple reporting a 63% increase in sales of its own-brand bandages ahead of Halloween tomorrow.

The UK-wide increase in sales reflects a week-on-week rise from October 13-19 to October 20-26 and Superdrug yesterday (October 29) confirmed to C+D that it follows a similar trend from last year.

Superdrug’s head of own brand and exclusives Emma Monaghan said that “this seasonal surge is always fun to see, as people transform [bandages] into costumes”.

Read more: Superdrug dispenses healthy dividend payout to parent company

“We’re delighted to be a destination for both health and beauty products and Halloween inspiration,” she added. 

The multiple said that it expects the £2.89 bandages to continue to be a favourite among “last-minute shoppers” looking for “cost-effective and DIY-friendly costume options” to “perfect their spooky season looks”.

Superdrug latest

This summer, Superdrug reported that purchases had risen during the Euro 2024 tournament, saying that it had seen a 209% sales increase of its own-brand magnesium tablets to help "combat" stress of watching England play football.

Last month, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) made a formal application to secure union recognition at Superdrug.

And C+D last month revealed that Superdrug's parent company AS Watson had declared dividend income of £119.5m, which included £45m from Superdrug and £35m from its sister company Savers.  

Read more: 'Euros anxiety’ leads to 209% magnesium sales spike

Meanwhile, Superdrug has beaten the supermarket pharmacies to the title of large pharmacy chain offering the cheapest private flu vaccination, charging £9.95 for those with a free Superdrug health and beauty card – £1.16 more than in 2023. 

And C+D exclusively revealed the multiple appointed Craig Watt as its new “pharmacy director” in July – a “newly created role within the business”.