Waitrose sales up 0.8% last week
Waitrose saw its sales (excluding fuel) rise by 0.8% year-on-year last week.
However, the supermarket said the week’s figures were distorted by the earlier finish this year of its high profile ‘Four Festive Shops’ promotion, which this time last year was still driving additional sales in the shops.
In the week ending 7 December, sales of window cleaning products climbed by 10%, metal polishes for cutlery by 18%, and carpet and rug cleaners by 15 % as customers began sprucing up their homes for the festive season.
Sales of cashmere toilet roll soared by 109% while scented candles sales rose by 23%.
Christmas plants were also popular with sales of poinsettias and wreaths increasing by 50%.
More than 31.4% of the supermarket’s sales were on promotion, which represented a rise of 1.7% on the same period last year.
Waitrose retail director Rob Collins said over 3 million customers are now using their myWaitrose card to benefit from rewards and promotions, with nearly two thirds of all sales going through with a card.
Collins added that the Heston from Waitrose Box of Chocolates was now the top selling chocolate box in the supermarket’s branches as shoppers search the boxes for one of five tickets to win a day with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal.
