Strong sales for Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s had a strong end to the financial year, after total sales for the fourth quarter (11 weeks to 21 March) increased by 6.8%, excluding fuel.

Like-for-like sales over the same period were up 6.2% on the previous quarter, no doubt buoyed by a 60% year-on-year increase in sales from its “basics” range.

But while customers were looking to economise, Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King said they were still concerned about ethical issues. “We have worked hard to provide this in our delivery of universal appeal.

“In January we doubled our range of higher-welfare pork and all our own-brand pork sausages, including ‘basics’, are made of British meat. In February we became the first major retailer to stop selling eggs laid by battery hens and we have recently expanded the choice of higher-welfare chicken with the launch of our new Freedom Food range.”