Waitrose sales rise by 22.8% last week
Waitrose said the long Easter weekend and warmer weather helped sales to increase by 22.8% year-on-year last week.
Compared to Easter Week last year, total branch sales were up 1.2%.
Easter confectionery sales rose by 7% with the Heston from Waitrose Dark Chocolate Egg proving particularly popular with sales jumping by 150%.
In addition, sales of Easter flowers and plants grew by 32% while homebaking equipment saw an 8% rise. For customers not wanting to start from scratch in the kitchen, Simnel cake proved popular with sales rocketing by 130% while hot cross bun sales rose 13% compared to last year.
Lamb legs and Aberdeen Angus roasting beef were the most popular roasting joints, rising by 11.5% and 13.7% respectively, and Scottish salmon fillets had a 50% surge in sales.
The supermarket said it achieved its best ever Easter for non-food sales which rose by 16% on last year.
Mark Williamson, commercial director at Waitrose, added: “The giving of Easter greetings cards is a growing trend. Sales rose by 10% and even overtook sales of birthday cards.
“The leisurely weekend meant sales of roast and ground coffees were up 38%. Customers were, perhaps, also preparing for visits from guests with household cleaning products up 12%.
“The warmer weather at the end of the bank holiday weekend also helped spur a 24% rise in sales of rosé wines. Likewise, strawberries saw a 32% rise, and we recently announced being the first supermarket this year to stock English strawberries.”
