Waitrose sales climb 6.2% as customers prepare for Christmas
Waitrose saw its sales rise by 6.2% last week as customers began stocking up on festive food and drink in preparation for Christmas.
Gin sales were up 17% on last year while sales of bottled beers rose 23%. Sales of white wine wine through the online Waitrose Wine Direct service were 70% up on last year.
Sales of frozen desserts increased by 22% while Waitrose Entertaining saw a 42% sales increase.
As well as buying festive food and drink, customers also had the big Christmas day wash-up in mind as sales of washing up liquid increased 12% on last year. Demand for cleaning products was also strong, with sales running 19% higher than last year.
Waitrose said its entire supply chain, including producers, drivers,and warehouse and branch staff was now working flat out and that warehouse teams will pick around 25 million cases of stock ready for delivery to stores.
David Jones, supply chain director at Waitrose said: “This time last year, businesses across the country were battling extreme weather conditions and as a fresh food retailer we certainly experienced our fair share of challenges.
“As we enter the final Christmas trading week of 2011 we are keeping a very close eye on the weather forecast – with our fingers firmly crossed.”
