Daffodils Feb 27 070

Total sales excluding fuel were up 20.7 per cent at Waitrose for the week ending 26 March 2016, with horticultural sales performing strongly.

A more meaningful comparison - given that this trade period coincided with Easter and last year's equivalent dates didn't - shows that sales this year saw a 3.7 per cent sales uplift on the equivalent week last year.

Spring flowers were popular in the period the data covers, though, with overall horticulture sales in Waitrose stores up 10.3 per cent compared with Easter week last year.