The start of the new school term and mixed weather has helped to deliver a provisional divisional weekly sales (excluding fuel) increase of 1.8 per cent at supermarket chain Waitrose when compared with the same week last year.
Soft fruit sales jumped by 12 per cent, prepared fruit sales grew by 7 per cent and snacking salads were up by 28 per cent, the retailer has reported.
Cleaning products also delivered strong sales growth across most categories. Category highlights included laundry detergent sales increasing by 10 per cent and laundry liquid sales leaping by 62 per cent.
The frozen category had another strong week of sales with frozen prawns up 17 per cent, scampi up 18 per cent and meat up 13 per cent. Frozen turkeys sales increased by 183 per cent.
Meanwhile, outdoor living sales grew by 39 per cent and gardening sales soared by 64 per cent.
There were indications the cooling temperatures were having some effect as sales of spirits increased by more than 8 per cent and rum sales increased by 15 per cent.
Sales of world beers were up 28 per cent with a huge demand for English wines at present as sales increased by 127 per cent.
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