Upmarket UK retailer Waitrose saw its sales rise by 1.4% last week despite poor weather, as Father's Day gifts boosted spending.
Sales during the week ending 18 June saw typical summer sellers such as barbecue items take a hit due to bad weather, while soups and flowers rose by 8% and 17%, respectively.
Strong sales in the banner's premium private label brand Waitrose 1 helped drive sales uplifts in a number of categories; yogurt sales increased by 44%, coffee by 13% and pasta by 19%.
Traditional Father's Day gift items all see an increase while the increased sales in brandy and whisky led to an overall increase of 4% in spirits.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by John Golden. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.