After a slow start to the Christmas trading period, Waitrose has enjoyed a bumper week of trading.
Waitrose sales jumped 26.6% in the week to 28 December. The upmarket supermarket conceded the increase was exceptionally high because of the distorting effect of the fall of Christmas. This year, the week contained an extra day of pre-Christmas trading.
By contrast, in the week ending 21 December, Waitrose sales dropped 6% and in the previous week they climbed by a modest 3.1%.
Waitrose said 23 December and Christmas Eve were exceptionally busy, as shoppers waited until the last minute to do their festive food shop.
The upmarket supermarket said shoppers were increasingly turning to easier-to-prepare turkey products, with sales of ready-stuffed and jointed turkey up 36%.
Continental Christmas favourites also sold well: sales of Stollen and panettone grew 118% and 160% respectively.
Elsewhere, lobster sales were up 106%.
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