Waitrose has announced a sales rise of 12 per cent increase for the year ending 31 January 2004.
The supermarket, which is part of the John Lewis store group saw gross sales of £2.7 billion and a five per cent rise on a like-for-like basis.
The 144-store chain has continued its successful strategy of further differentiating itself from the rest of the sector by focusing on high quality foods.
Ocado, Waitrose’s online grocery venture also reported a good year. Sales rose by 173 per cent to £85 million with weekly orders running at 17,000. Waitrose’s share of Ocado’s losses for the year fell to £16m, a drop of £21m.
John Lewis said it had invested £170m in developing the partnership in 2003, bringing the five-year total to over £1.2bn.
As the group’s sales exceed the £5bn mark for the first time. John Lewis was positive in its outlook for the year ahead. Sales in the supermarkets division have risen by five per cent in the first weeks of the year.
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