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| Tesco has strong festive season | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK's biggest retailer, Tesco, has said it enjoyed its best Christmas performance for three years, after seeing a "strong" rise in sales. | |
| UK like-for-like sales, which do not include new store openings, excluding petrol, had risen by 5.1% in the six weeks to 9 January, Tesco said. | |
| However, Tesco offered double points on its Clubcard loyalty scheme, which contributed 0.7% to the sales growth. | However, Tesco offered double points on its Clubcard loyalty scheme, which contributed 0.7% to the sales growth. |
| Meanwhile, Debenhams said its sales had been little-changed in recent months. | |
| In the 18 weeks to 2 January, like-for-like sales had increased by 0.1%, the department store said. | |
| Online growth | |
| TRADING UPDATES AT A GLANCE M&S - like-for-like sales up 0.8% in three months to 26 DecemberJohn Lewis - revenues of £500.8m in five weeks to 2 January, like-for-like sales up 12.7%Next - like-for-like sales up 3.2% in 22 weeks to 24 DecemberAsda - said it had a "solid" ChristmasMajestic Wine - like-for-like sales up 11.7% in nine weeks to 4 JanuaryOcado - like-for-like sales up 30% in four weeks to 26 DecemberShop Direct - sales up 6.3% in six weeks to 1 JanuarySainsbury's - like-for-like sales up 3.7%, excluding fuel, in the 13 weeks to 2 January.Poundland - like-for-like sales up 4.4% during the five weeks to 3 JanuaryCo-op - reported a 4.8% increase in sales, excluding fuel, in the 12 weeks to 2 January Christmas sales beat expectations | |
| Like its rival Sainsbury's, Tesco reported a rise in champagne sales as customers were "looking for ways to treat themselves". It sold 35% more bottles of champagne than last year. | Like its rival Sainsbury's, Tesco reported a rise in champagne sales as customers were "looking for ways to treat themselves". It sold 35% more bottles of champagne than last year. |
| The supermarket giant added that its Finest range had sold particularly well. | The supermarket giant added that its Finest range had sold particularly well. |
| Non-food sales were boosted by growth in clothing, electrical goods and toys. | Non-food sales were boosted by growth in clothing, electrical goods and toys. |
| Tesco added that online sales had grown by nearly 20% in the six-week period. | |
| The company's finance director, Laurie McIlwee, denied there were any shortages on the shelves as a result of deliveries being delayed in the bad weather. | |
| "Our suppliers have worked very well with us through some difficult times," he said. "I see our availability as [being as] strong as it's been throughout the year." | |
| Profit focus | |
| Debenhams said its Christmas sales had been in line with its forecasts, given that it had been moving retailing space away from concessions and focusing on its own labels. | |
| Chief executive Rob Templeman said he was pleased with the performance. | |
| "Our continued focus on cash margin means that for the second year in succession we have delivered an increase in profit before tax over the Christmas trading period," he said. | |
| Debenhams and Tesco are the latest retailers to update the market on how they have performed over Christmas. | |
| Separately, the British Retail Consortium said retailers enjoyed their strongest December growth for eight years, with like-for-like sales increasing by 4.2%. |