Waitrose is offering an unusal herb-based alternative to the usual Christmas trees this year.
The supermarket is again selling rosemary Christmas trees after their success last year with shoppers looking for a tree that can be reused. At 30cm high, the trees are edible and give off a distinct fragrance around the home.
The trend for rosemary Christmas trees started in America, where just as many are now bought compared with standard Christmas trees, according to Waitrose. Rosemary is also one of the retailer's three best-selling herbs, with sales rising over 200 per cent over the festive season compared to the rest of the year.
The trees, which are available in 248 branches, are grown in Chichester and are selling for £15 each.
Horticulture buyer Allison Burdett said: “We know our customers are keen gardeners and love cooking, so this is the perfect combination for them. The rosemary tree’s leaves can be used to flavour dishes over the holidays and then be planted outside when Christmas is over, so nothing goes to waste!”
Meanwhile in a trading update for the week ending 1 December, supply chain director Wim van Aalst reported that total sales excluding fuel were down 1.8 per cent, comparing to a week last year that saw more widespread promotional activity.
