Waitrose has reported a sales increase of over 40 per cent for the week covering Christmas trading .
The surge in sales for the week ending December 27 meant the supermarket chain took in £112.29m, compared with takings of £79.2m a year earlier, signalling strong consumer spending despite the economic downturn .
The festive week also included the biggest single trading day (23 December) in the grocer’s history, according to parent company John Lewis .
The retailer revealed sales at its department stores and online operation also rose during the week, by 1.2 per cent from the same week the previous year to £71m.
Sales were boosted by a strong performance from its electrical and technology departments, while its post Christmas Clearance sale delivered a record first day.
The late surge in department store business came after the group suffered for much of the year, experiencing poor double-digit percentage falls in sales during November.
Retail operations director Patrick Lewis said: “The pundits who predicted it would come fast and furious in the final week were on the money.”
“After a difficult November, trade built steadily over the last month, finishing with a surge on the Sunday to Wednesday before Christmas . We then topped it all with a record first day of clearance.”
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