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The retailer saw online sales jump 22% as it pushes ahead with its digital transformation programme

Holland & Barrett has reported a 4.8% revenue increase over the Christmas period as sales accelerated across both e-commerce and store channels.

For the quarter ended 31 December 2019, like-for-like sales were also up, rising 3.3% year on year, with growth recorded “across all markets”, the health and wellness retailer said.

Boosted by the current focus on health and sustainability trends, vitamins, clean beauty and personalised products experienced “significant growth”.

“Our customers are increasingly telling us they want to live more healthy lifestyles, to look better and to do so without compromising on the ethically and sustainably sourced products and services they buy,” CEO Tony Buffin said.

“H&B is ideally placed to meet these demands in growing markets and although we are still only in the early stages of transforming the business, I would like to thank all of our teams for their hard work in the run-up to Christmas.”

Online sales jumped 22% during the quarter as Holland & Barrett’s transformation plan – aimed at rendering the retailer more “digitally focused” – showed “encouraging progress”.

The retailer said last year it was making investments to grow its digital capabilities across advertising, order fulfilment, information for customers and sales to become a “truly omnichannel” business.

It currently trades from more than 1,300 stores globally, of which 800 are across the UK and Ireland.