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Flowers, salads and soft fruit are continuing to sell well at Waitrose, boosted by the start to spring.

The supermarket's supply chain director Wim van Aalst reported that sales of Mother's Day flowers rose 10 per cent in the week ending 30 March, compared to the equivalent week last year, while warmer weather boosted sales of ice cream, ice cubes, salads and soft fruit.

Overall trade excluding fuel fell 9.9 per cent compared to the same week last year, however Van Aalst stressed the drop was due to the fact that Easter fell this week a year ago, distorting comparisons.