Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Total sales excluding fuel at Waitrose & Partners were 0.5% higher last week (to Saturday January 4) than the same week last year.
The supermarket chain’s commercial director Rupert Thomas said: “Customers were in celebratory mood ahead of the New Year with sales of Champagne and sparkling wines up 25% and 24% respectively [compared with] last year. Wines were up 13% overall with English wines performing particularly well, up 175% on the year before.
“Low and non-alcohol drinks were also popular as we moved into the New Year and some customers opted for ‘Dry January’, with sales up 27% on last year.
“Party food and deli sales were both up significantly, whilst sales of pies, pasties and dips were up 11%.”
He added that a full picture of Waitrose & Partners’ Christmas sales will be given when the retailer reports its Christmas trading figures on Thursday (January 9).
