Iceland has posted a 1.5% uplift in like-for-like sales over November and December.

The frozen food specialist generated a 5% rise in total revenues in the nine weeks to the end of December, driven by its strong party food range.

Iceland said sales have shown an “improved trend” in the second half of the current financial year ending in March 2013.

The figure reported by Iceland is lower than indicated in Kantar Worldpanel data issued today, which indicated that Iceland sales increased 9.7% in the 12 weeks to December 23.

The retailer, which has 779 stores, said: “We are pleased to confirm that Iceland’s sales have shown an improved trend in the second half of the current financial year.

“Our ranges of roast-from-frozen seasonal joints and seasonal desserts were particularly successful, while Iceland’s famous Party Fayre range continued to benefit from strong consumer demand for our sustained innovation and great value.”

Retail Week revealed in October that like-for-like sales at Iceland slipped by 0.2% in the six months to the end of September, in contrast to a like-for-like rise of 6% for the rpeviouys full year.

Iceland’s full-year target is flat like-for-likes – behind an originally anticipated 3% rise. EBITDA is likely to fall from £230.2m last year to between £215m and £220m in 2012/13.