Waitrose, one of the first of the UK’s multiple retailers to have published trading figures for the Jubilee weekend, has revealed its “biggest” week ever for English wine sales.
Overall, Waitrose achieved strong total sales of 19.8 percent up on last year for the week ending Saturday June 2. The performance was helped in part by a 25 percent off promotion on wine and Champagne, but clearly festivities for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee were the main driver, as sales excluding wine were 18.1 percent higher than last year.
Total turnover for the week was £123m, higher than any other trading week in Waitrose’s history with the exception of Christmas and Easter – with the retailer benefiting from more shoppers and more items through its tills.
English wine had its biggest week on record with sales up 96 percent.
Mark Price, Waitrose managing director, said: “The prospect of a long weekend and a wonderful focus for celebration spurred shoppers into action. Many people clearly welcomed having a great reason to step away from day-to-day budgeting to stock up on fabulous food and drink for Jubilee parties and entertaining.”
