Waitrose has posted a 1.5% increase in like-for-like sales over the six weeks to 30 December 2017, parent company John Lewis Partnership has revealed.
The retailer posted £928 million worth of gross sales (excluding fuel). If New Year's Eve was included in the figures, like-for-like sales for the period would be up 2.2%, the retailer said.
In addition, the group's online business achieved the 'biggest week of sales in its history', it said.
Brand Strength
"Our overall sales performance this Christmas is testament to the strength of our brands and to the dedication and hard work of our Partners," commented Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership.
"Thanks to them we were able to create a real festive buzz in our branches. For example, we doubled the number of tastings in our branches for some of our innovative new products, such as our Chocolate and Ginger Mince Pies. Our one-day-only offers were also very successful and drove footfall."
Among the private label products launched by Waitrose for the period were Heston Citrus Sherbert Lazy Gin, which 'sold a month's worth of stock in one day', the retailer noted. Sales of the group's premium Waitrose 1 product range were up 4.2% in volume.
In December, Waitrose announced that it was expanding its 'Food Innovation Facility', with a view to doubling the number of chefs employed at its Bracknell head office.
Overall gross sales at the John Lewis Partnership were up 2.5% compared to the same period last year, at £1,962 million. Sales at John Lewis were £1,034 million, up 3.6% versus last year and up 3.1% on a like-for-like basis.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
