Festive sales prove tasty for Waitrose

Waitrose has confirmed its status as one of the grocery sector's best performers by hailing "very strong" Christmas trading.

The 272-store supermarket also piled the pressure on online grocer Ocado, which delivers Waitrose products, by delivering soaring internet sales.

Waitrose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, grew its total sales by 9.5% in the month to December 31, boosted by new stores. Its underlying sales rose by 3.8%, which is likely to be ahead of supermarket rivals Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Tesco.

Mark Price, the managing director of Waitrose, said: "More customers than ever before shopped across all our ranges this Christmas, from luxurious festive fare to essential Waitrose trimmings. We have outperformed the market all year."

The grocer's online sales rocketed by 49% in the week before Christmas - albeit off a lower base than its rivals. Price described as "phenomenal" the 68% rise in orders over the same period. He said the difference between its sales and orders was because it had attracted hordes of new customers, who typically spend less on their first few transactions.

The ending of a non-compete clause with Ocado allowed Waitrose to deliver from any of its shops inside the M25 from July.