Waitrose

Fresh fruit sales have received a boost at Waitrose with the onset of spring.

Personnel director Helen Hyde reported that in the week ending 18 March, the year's hottest day so far gave a significant uplift to fruit sales. Raspberry sales were up 24 per cent on the same week last year, with melon up 22 per cent and soft fruit rising by 31 per cent.

Food-to-go and salad sales both rose eight per cent, and Hyde pointed out that the fact the same trading week last year was the week before Easter made the figures all the more impressive.

Meanwhile in the week to 11 March, retail director Ben Stimson said that raspberry sales had risen 38 per cent, prepared fruit went up 29 per cent and salad climbed 11 per cent.

Putting the increase down to the warmer weather, Stimson reported that daffodil sales rose a notable 56 per cent.