Christmas trading in the independent retail sector was “robust” with consumers continuing to focus on promotions on big brands and own-label into the New Year.
Sales across the Costcutter estate were up 3% over the festive period, with company-owned outlets up 6%.
Sales of ambient, chilled and frozen foods through Nisa-Today’s were up 11%, 2.3% and 7% respectively in volume terms, with alcohol up 6.6% and confectionery up 17%.
Nisa-Today’s said it invested heavily in key categories and “sacrificed a degree of profitability” to allow retailers to improve their offer to shoppers at a time when the major multiples were discounting heavily.
Musgrave Retail Partners said sales through Londis and Budgens stores in the two weeks over Christmas and New Year were “robust”.
Angela Barber, trading and marketing director at Costcutter, said footfall through stores was being maintained into the New Year as shoppers continued to shop “little and often” as the recession began to bite.
“Branded lines continue to be very strong for us,” she said. “Into the New Year, we have got a lot of ownlabel promotions. It is tough out there, there’s no denying that.”
Steve Fox, director of retail and Premier development at Booker said some Premier retailers had benefited by opening for a few hours on Christmas Day,as well as Boxing Day.
“People are looking for value and that’s why we are seeing our EuroShopper [economy] brand absolutely flying,” he said.
The response from store level was slightly mixed. Heather Stothard, an independent Spar retailer in Maltby, Rotherham, said: “Trade came very late. December was poor but the actual Christmas week was very good. I had my best ever Christmas Eve.”
Kevin Hunt, Spar retailer in Preston, said: “Surprisingly, we had a very good Christmas. Sales were up a staggering 9% on last year – outperforming the high street.
“People were doing their big shop the weekend before at the supermarket and topping up at their local Spar in the few days up to Christmas Day.”
Mike Dennis
The original article appeared in Independent Retail News
