Spar has announced that fresh food sales jumped 3.1 per cent during the first quarter of fiscal 2010, boosted by an expansion in its own-brand range and an improved food and wine offer.

The convenience store operator saw sales of fresh vegetables climb by 10.4 per cent for the three-month period ended 31 July, while fresh fruit sales jumped by 20 per cent, Planet Retail reported.

Own-brand sales climbed by 4.4 per cent through the quarter, helped by the ongoing rollout of its own label ranges, while sales of promoted items rose 28 per cent year-on-year, with fresh food sales up 36.3 per cent.

"On a category basis, we've seen strong performances across our fresh food and our wine in particular," said Spar UK managing director Jerry Marwood.