Waitrose sales boosted by outdoor events and warm weather last week
A week of major outdoor events and warmer weather helped drive Waitrose sales 6.5% higher year-on-year last week.
The Proms, held at parks across the country, and the Invictus Games spurred sales of outdoor food and picnic staples. Sales of the retailer’s Good to Go range surged by 17.5% while demand for bottled water increased by almost a third. Quiche sales jumped by 26%, while appetisers and dips saw 25% and 12% uplifts respectively.
The warmer weather meant the retailer sold 4,000 more bags of barbecue charcoal than at the same time last year. Slow-cooked barbecue meats shot up by 48% while fish sales rose by 24%.
The weather also propelled ice cream sales which increased by 25%. In addition, soft fruit saw demand surge by 16%, with blueberries up 28%.
Sales of world beers were also strong, surging by 123%, while sales of bottled ales rose by a quarter.
The warmer weather also drove a 26% rise in the retailer’s horticulture range while demand for bouquets online jumped by 31%.
