The retailer, which is the world’s biggest co-op following last year’s merger with United Co-operatives, posted an overall increase in like-for-like food sales of 3.4 per cent in the three weeks to January 5. C-store like-for-likes for the period rose 6.2 per cent, while total food store sales advanced 5.2 per cent to hit£275 million.
For the 13 weeks to the same date, comparable sales rose 3.3 per cent at food stores and 6 per cent at c-stores.
At rebranded Co-operative Food stores, sales rose 11 per cent at five new-model supermarkets and 12 per cent at refitted c-stores.
Co-op chief executive Peter Marks said the performance – the retailer’s eighth consecutive quarter of like-for-like food growth – was “solid” and demonstrated the business’ “continued momentum”.
Marks said: “The results from rebranded stores show that our customers are enjoying the new shopping experience and this augurs well for 2008.” This year, the Co-operative Group will spend£200 million refitting 700 of its shops.
Sales at the retailer’s online electricals store, Coopelectricalshop.co.uk, rose 110 per cent in the two weeks before Christmas. The online business generates annual sales of£34 million and profits of almost£1 million.
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