UK retailer Waitrose has said that sales of fresh fruit and vegetables are up considerably over the past week, compared to the same period last year, with raspberries seeing a 40% rise, strawberries a 28% rise, and salad seeing a 14% rise.
The retailer also said that asparagus sales were up 60%, following the launch of Vale of Evesham asparagus, grown in the UK, which was awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status earlier this year.
The increase in fresh produce sales comes despite an overall fall in total sales at Waitrose for the period, of 4.6%, compared to the same week last year, however the retailer said that this is 'heavily distorted due to the fall of Easter. This means we are comparing a full week in 2016 with six days this year'.
In addition, sunny weather also led to a boom in outdoor products, which was 230% higher than last year, including picnicware, which rose 140%. Sales of rosé wine were 22% higher year-on-year.
Earlier this month, Waitrose reported a similar spike in fresh produce sales, again following a spell of sunny weather.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
