Waitrose unveils rise in first-quarter sales

Waitrose achieved an 11.1 per cent rise in first-quarter revenue buttressed by a 50.1 per cent surge in online sales growth.

The upmarket UK grocer flew in the face of the challenging economic conditions as customers flocked to their website to make purchases.

The supermarket, owned by John Lewis Partnership, said results were driven by existing stores as only one new store opened in the period.

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Finance Director Tom Athron said its prices now match rival Tesco on more than 7,000 items per week.

Customer transactions were up 8.4% and for the first time more than five million customers visited its stores per week.

"In a challenging economic climate, these figures are testimony to the efforts of each and every Partner to drive our growth," he said.

As the weather heated up in April, shoppers stocked up on food and drink more typical of summer months. Salad sales rose 27% and ice cream jumped 21%.

Customers also stocked up on sun cream to send suncare sales soaring 158%.

RD