Waitrose shrugs off web wobbles to celebrate bumper Christmas

Waitrose has reported a strong set of sales figures for the crucial run-up to Christmas.

The supermarket reported a 3.8% increase in like-for-like sales in December, helped by strong sales of traditional Christmas fare.

Turkey orders were up 66% over the previous year, while Christmas pudding and mince pie sales rose by 53% and 33% respectively. The popularity of Heston Blumenthal’s Christmas puddings and mince pies gave a major boost to festive dessert sales.

Meanwhile, online sales in the seven days before Christmas rose 49% over the equivalent period in 2010 despite the teething problems with the re-launched waitrose.com.

“More customers than ever before shopped across all our ranges this Christmas, from luxurious festive fare to essential Waitrose trimmings,” said managing director Mark Price. “We’ve had a very strong Christmas.”