Waitrose storefront

Sales at Waitrose for the last week of August were up 6.4 per cent, compared to the same period last year, with the upmarket supermarket achieving positive growth across the board.

Apples enjoyed a 19 per cent spike in sales and lemons and limes a 12 per cent jump.

Withschoolchildren returning to the classrooms nationwide last week, Waitrose has attributed the rise in apple sales to the lunchbox market, and lemon and lime sales to an increased interest of mixer drinks following the recent hot weather.

Meanwhile, like-for-like sales rose 2.2 per cent for the six months ending 28 July and since the end ofthe half-year, which also marked the start of the Olympics, Waitrose like-for-like sales growth has accelerated to 4.5 per cent.

Waitrosehas also positively grew its market share, for the 12-week period ending 2 September, to 4.6 per cent from 4.4 per cent.