Waitrose Experiences a Jubilant Jubilee Period

By Laura Elliott.

Upmarket UK retailer Waitrose has seen a record week of trading in the run-up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The chain’s turnover peaked at £123 million, as the retailer saw sales surge to an incredible 19.8% in the week leading up to Saturday June 2. A 25% discount across all wines and champagne is also said to have helped the sales increase, with sales of wine at Waitrose up a shocking 18.1% as well.

As reported by Retail Week, managing director at Waitrose, Mark Price, said that “The prospect of a long weekend and a wonderful focus for celebration spurred shoppers into action. Many people clearly welcomed having a great reason to step away from day-to-day budgeting to stock up on fabulous food and drink for Jubilee parties and entertaining.”

At Waitrose, picnic favourites appeared to have sold best, with cider and British ales becoming the most popular beverages for the Jubilee and experiencing a sales increase of 70% and 25% respectively. English wine also had its most successful week on record, with a sales increase of a phenomenal 96%.

Patriotic customers also helped sales of red, white and blue icing rise by 637%, as many turned to home-baking to celebrate the Jubilee. Waitrose also said that Heston Blumenthal’s and Royal Chef Mark Flanagan’s Jubilee-inspired dessert was in “hot demand” over the weekend.

Short URL: http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/?p=7203

Posted by admin on Jun 11 2012. Filed under Events, Latest News, Product News, Retail News, Supermarkets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry