UK retailer Waitrose has reported that total sales for last week, excluding fuel, were 2% higher than the same period in 2016.
The retailer says that fresh summer produce was particularly popular, with sales of raspberries 'having their biggest ever week'. Private label 'essential Waitrose' raspberries experienced a growth in sales of 52%, boosting overall raspberry sales by 32%.
Retail Trends
As well as raspberries, British cherry sales increased by 61% at Waitrose last week. The retailer attributes this growth to a new advertising campaign highlighting that all its British fresh fruit and vegetable growers are LEAF certified.
Meanwhile, beers, wines, and spirits continued to perform well, with sales up by almost 10%. Gin, which has overtaken sales of all other spirits as Waitrose, was up by 46% compared to last year, along with mixers which experienced an increase in sales of 48%.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.