Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Total divisional sales excluding fuel at Waitrose were down 3.1% last week (to March 12), mainly because Mother’s Day fell a week earlier this year.
With just over a week to go until the Easter weekend, the supermarket chain’s customers are picking up their seasonal favourites, with hot cross buns up 20% contributing to a 1.6% increase in the bakery, hospitality and food to go category. Easter staples, including confectionery and eggs, were up 102% as families picked up sweet treats for Easter egg hunts.
A weekend packed with football and rugby saw quick and convenient evening options proving popular, with prepared meals up 3.5% and pizza up 15%.
Meanwhile Waitrose.com continued to show ‘strong growth’, with total orders up 7.5% on last year.
Last week saw the opening of Waitrose’s new branch in the Buckinghamshire market town of High Wycombe, which has enjoyed ‘a successful start’, according to Waitrose personnel director Helen Hyde.
This is now the fourth Waitrose branch with a sushi counter.The concept was launched by Waitrose in November 2015 in co-operation with sushi bar and counter operator Sushi Daily. The counter is manned by a sushi chef who prepares fresh products in front of customers throughout the day.
Waitrose’s new store in the Buckinghamshire market town of High Wycombe
