Post-Christmas sales at upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose remained firm in spite of a disparity in the trading calendar, according to new figures.
The latest update published by the retailer revealed that although sales were down 11 per cent year-on-year in the week ending on January 7, this was because of the timing of the New Year’s bank holiday. When this is accounted for, sales were in fact up eight per cent on the same point in 2011.
Sales of cleaning products including carpet cleaner and bleach rose sharply - up by 11 per cent from January 2011 - as consumers sought to freshen up their home after the Christmas break.
“Traditionally the week when the Christmas tree gets taken down, many people took the opportunity to spruce up the home,” said Waitrose marketing director Rupert Thomas. “It’s a long-held tradition to start the New Year in a clean and tidy house, and shoppers enthusiastically embraced the tradition.”
Waitrose revealed last week that it experienced its best-ever week in terms of sales in the run-up to Christmas, capping a successful 2011.
