Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
A sporting feast packed into a three-day weekend produced a strong performance for supermarket chain Waitrose in the week to May 24, with divisional sales (excluding petrol) up 6.8% year-on-year.
The Rugby Union Heineken Cup Final and Champions League Final helped send world beer sales soaring, up 33% year-on-year. The Football League Play-off Finals, PGA Championship and preparation for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix played their part, too. Sharing snacks and pretzels were up 29% and 21% respectively, pizza sales rose by 17% and ready meals sales lifted 7.5%.
Waitrose supply chain director David Jones said: “Shoppers seemed in a celebratory mood whatever their allegiance, as Pimm’s continued to fly off the shelves, while local cider sales increased by 16%. Sales of non-alcoholic ‘adult soft drinks’ such as Shloer and Bottle Green continue to rise too, up almost 35% year-on-year, and water sales were up more than 26%.
“Outdoor products, including barbecues, had another great week with sales up 50% year-on-year and horticulture sales growing by 22%.”
