Waitrose today announced sales growth of 6.6 per cent for the first half of the year, hitting £2.8 billion. Like-for-like sales (excluding petrol) for the period were up 2.2 per cent and operating profit soared to £142 million, an increase of 28.9 per cent.
The first six months of the year saw Waitrose open four supermarkets and six convenience stores with a 2 per cent increase in selling space. Online sales saw a 50 per cent surge with deliveries now available from 147 branches.
The up-market British retailer attributed its strong performance to a boost from events such as the Diamond Jubilee, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the extension of its Brand Price Match.
The retailer said, "Consumer demand remains fragile, but has stabilised and we continue to see opportunities to grow market share."
Waitrose has a strong brigade of private label products and launched 2,700 new and improved products in the first half of the year, with a further 2,200 to be introduced before the year is out, reflecting the supermarket chain's "highest-ever rate of product innovation." ( 13 Sept)
© 2012 - ESM: European Supermarket
