Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Total divisional sales (excluding petrol) at Waitrose were up 7% in the week to August 17.
The Great British Beer Festival boosted sales in the ale aisles, with St Peter’s Golden Ale rocketing 396% and demand for strong pale ale Timothy Taylor Landlord shooting up by 202%.
The relatively cool weather for this trading week was reflected in shopping habits compared to this time last year, with sales of gravies up 27% and stocks up 20%.
There was a similar increase in frozen potatoes (19%) and root vegetables (17%). At the same time, beef and pork demand leapt 12.4% and 11% respectievly.
Interestingly for this time of year, demand for malt whisky shot up by 50% while brandy sales jumped 36%, suggesting customers have already been settling in for a warming dram.
Waitrose.com orders were up by 37.9% compared with this time last year as customers seek to shop with Waitrose from the convenience of home.
