Waitrose sales climb 6.5% in first quarter
Waitrose has reported that sales have risen 6.5% on a provisional basis in the first thirteen weeks of the trading year after completing its first quarter in the week ending 26 April.
The supermarket has also achieved a record market share of 5% according to figures compiled by Kantar Worldpanel.
Sales in the week ending 26 April were 2.1% lower than last year due to a shorter trading week with the closure of most shops on Easter Sunday. However, sales increased by 7% when this year’s two-week Easter trading period is compared with the equivalent fortnight last year.
During the quarter, online sales surged by 79.4% as trade was boosted by a successful marketing campaign and promotional activity.
Never Miss a Retail Update!The supermarket opened eight shops in the quarter compared to none in the same period last year. Waitrose managing director Mark Price said: “The development of the modern Waitrose has also seen us take a number of new concepts into our branches to give customers additional reasons to visit.
“We are trialling bakery and patisserie concepts, juice bars, deli and wine grazing areas, and all are showcased together for the first time in our Swindon branch – which opened last month and is performing ahead of expectations.”
Price added that the myWaitrose card was continuing to attract customers with a total of 70% of sales made by cardholders in the quarter.
Having launched a range of garden products last year, the supermarket grew the category’s sales by 22.4% in the thirteen week period and has now rolled out its gardening pods to 180 branches.
