Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Total sales excluding fuel were up 3.4% for Waitrose last week (to Saturday September 2) against last year.
The supermarket chain’s retail director Ben Stimson attributed the performance in part to a promotion offering 25% off all wine and champagne (three bottles or more).
He said the warm bank holiday also drove sales of cider and beer, helping the overall beers, wines and spirits category rise 21.6% year-on-year.
Ben added that sunshine at the start of the week contributed to sales of children’s lollies increasing by 16%, sun cream by 27% and sandwiches by 5%.
Celeriac rice also performed well after Waitrose became the first supermarket to introduce the vegetable. Available from August 30, Waitrose Celeriac Rice (£1.75/300g) is raw celeriac, chopped into rice-sized pieces for use in home cooking.
Waitrose vegetable buyer Tom Moore said: “We know our customers love an alternative to traditional carbs, particularly when they’re made entirely of fresh vegetables or are a tad unusual. Celeriac rice adds a deliciously subtle nutty flavour to a dish and keeps its shape beautifully during cooking.”
