Stawberries

Soft-fruit and salad sales have received a boost from the start of spring, Waitrose has reported.

The supermarket's retail director Ben Stimson said that soft-fruit and salad sales had risen by 18 and six per cent respectively in the week ending 23 March in a period that saw good trade for warm-weather favourites including beers, mixers and ice cream.

Waitrose's vegan and vegetarian range also saw a 68 per cent uplift compared to the same week last year, Stimson reported.

However total sales excluding fuel were down 0.8 per cent, with comparisons distorted by the earlier fall of Easter last year.