A ‘remarkable half year’ for Waitrose

Last week (to July 26) brought to a close ‘a remarkable half year’ for Waitrose, according to the supermarket chain’s managing director Mark Price.

“In a more turbulent time for food retailing than any of us can remember we have outperformed the industry, won more customers, increased our market share and won top awards from ‘Which?’ magazine, Verdict and ‘Good Housekeeping,'” he said.

He added: “I expect that for the six months to July 26, we will report sales growth in the region of 4.5%. Our performance for the week ending July 26 saw us finish the first half on a high note, as we emerged from the period of tough comparatives against strong promotional activity last year.” Sales for the week (excluding petrol) were 6.7% higher than last year.

Mark Price continued: “We’re investing to enable us to compete effectively in this very tough market. We’re building our online business, opening new shops and improving existing ones, offering new services and hospitality, and using myWaitrose to understand our customers more. Everything we’re doing is enabling us to compete well now – and build the modern Waitrose equipped to succeed in the very different grocery landscape of the future.”