Warming meals drive sales growth of 2.5% at Waitrose last week
A colder turn in the weather and a range of promotions helped Waitrose to increase its sales by 2.5% year-on-year last week.
Warming meals were high up on customers’ shopping lists with sales of stuffing and Yorkshire puddings up 13% and soup sales rising by 6%.
Wines, beers and spirits also had a strong week as customers stocked up ahead of Christmas and benefited from a 10% off promotion on wines, beers and spirits. Sales of wines from the Loire were up 90% while sales of Spanish and Portuguese wines climbed by 99% and 84% respectively.
Rupert Thomas, marketing director at Waitrose, said: “The trend for sipping tequila shows no signs of abating, as sales increased by 20% compared to last year. The revival of vermouth is continuing, with sales up 9%, and malt whisky enjoyed sales growth of 5%.”
Highlights from the frozen aisle included battered fish, up 23%, and prawns, up 21%.
Thomas added: “Shoppers are choosing to be creative with their Christmas presents this year, as fill-your-own gift crates are proving to be the best-selling Christmas gift at Waitrose.”
