Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Divisional sales excluding fuel at Waitrose last week (to Saturday February 17) were up 3.6% compared with the same week last year.
Sales of prepared meals increased by 3% boosted by the supermarket chain’s Valentine’s Day meal deal, which proved popular with customers. Wine sales were also up 11%, helped by the meal deal.
Valentine’s week sales also saw an increase of health and beauty products, which were up 5%, confectionery (up 15%) and flowers (up 10%).
With spring just round the corner, Waitrose launched its Easter range this week. The retailer’s finance director Loraine Woodhouse said one of its new Easter eggs already attracting “strong interest” is the Waitrose Chocolate Avocado.
With a dark chocolate shell, and a white chocolate with natural green colouring and cocoa dusted ‘stone’, the egg “looks just like the real thing”. The shell and stone are Belgian chocolate (made with 70% cocoa), while the white chocolate middle uses natural colouring to imitate the green flesh of the fruit.
Waitrose product developer Kate Kind commented: “Inspired by the continued trend for all things avocado, we wanted to create a fun addition to our Easter range and we’re really excited about the launch of our new Easter egg. If you’re an ‘avo-lover’ with a sweet tooth, this unique twist on the classic egg makes the perfect Easter treat and will provide a fun talking point among family and friends this season.”
The new Waitrose Chocolate Avocado was launched in Waitrose branches nationwide and online yesterday (Monday February 19), priced at £8 (250g).
Waitrose Chocolate Avocado Easter Egg
