Upmarket UK retailer Waitrose has today (3 August) reported a 7% increase in half-year sales.
For the 26 weeks to 28 July, the retailer's overall sales increased by 7% versus the same period of last year. It did not provide data on like-for-like sales, which excludes the impact of new stores.
Convenience store sales and online orders were the main drivers of the sales increase. Convenience channel sales almost doubled over the six months.
Waitrose said its "solid" first half of its financial year was capped off by a 13.6% increase in sales last week.
Record-breaking ice cream sales during a long-awaited UK summer heatwave boosted sales last week.
The retailer said last week was its biggest on record for ice cream sales, which rose by 55% on the same seven days of the previous year.
Top selling ice creams included essential Waitrose rocket lollies, which saw sales increase by 127%. Total sales for the week increased by 13.6%.
