Supermarket sales surged in the week ending April 17 2010 following a sluggish trading period, according to market research company Nielsen.
Sales were up 10% year-on-year between 10-17 April at the grocery multiples as retailers benefited from the improved weather.
But in the four weeks to April 17 supermarket sales tracked at under 3% with volume growth of just 0.7% said Nielsen.
Despite the benign trading conditions that started at the end of February, Mike Watkins, senior manager retailer services at Nielsen, said: “The underlying trend has been sluggish sales.”
But Watkins added: “If we have a good bank holiday weekend the end of April could be the long awaited turning point.”
Waitrose and Morrisons were the standout performers in the 12 weeks to April 17. Waitrose grew sales 11.5% in the three months overall but growth accelerated to 12.4% during the last four weeks.
Watkins said the upmarket retailer would have benefited from customers trading up for Easter but added that sustained double digit growth was “testament to the retailer’s continuing success”.
Morrisons boosted sales by 7.1% in the quarter while market leader Tesco posted growth of 3.9% – comfortably outperforming rival Asda’s 2.2% rise.
“The heavy emphasis Tesco is placing on the Clubcard and associated deals have helped the retailer gain ground,” Watkins said. “The resurgent retailer and a storming Morrisons are clearly impacting Asda.”
