Morrisons, the UK retailer, has emerged as the winner among the country’s big four grocers over Christmas 2008 with sales outpacing Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
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The company this morning (22 January) posted an 8.2% rise in like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, for the six weeks to 4 January.
The performance compared favourably to figures posted earlier this month from larger rivals Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Tesco booked UK like-for-like sakes growth of 2.5% for the seven weeks to 10 January. Sainsbury’s, meanwhile, reported a 4.5% rise in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 3 January.
Morrisons said the company’s total sales over the Christmas period climbed 9.4% excluding fuel.
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By GlobalDataThe retailer said its focus on fresh food and “industry-leading, price-crunching deals and promotional offers” had lured a record number of customers through its doors over Christmas.
Chief executive Marc Bolland said: “I am pleased with Morrisons excellent Christmas trading, having attracted 2.2m extra customers with great fresh foods and industry leading value.”
Looking ahead, Morrisons said it expects its deal to buy 38 stores from The Co-operative Group to complete early in the next financial year.
The company said it remained “cautious” on the outlook for consumer spending in the UK but said its “value credentials” would stand the business in good stead.
Shares in Morrisons however were down 3.2% in early trading to 255.75p at 09:15 GMT this morning.
