Morrisons unveiled its 10th consecutive quarter of like-for-like growth as new ranges and store openings bore fruit. 

The grocer’s like-for-like sales rose 3.6% in the 13 weeks to May 6, while overall sales grew 3.8%. 

It put this down to continued investment in the ”customer shopping trip” and “competitiveness”, as well as accelerating volume growth.

The grocer said number of shopping trips edged up 0.7%, but average basket size slipped 1.1%.

It also flagged the start in earnest of its wholesale arm. It now supplies around 25 McColl’s stores per week.

Sales during the quarter were split equally between the firm’s retail and wholesale segments. 

“We are on track for our targets of £700m of annualised sales by the end of the year and £1bn in due course,” the retailer said. 

Chief executive David Potts said the business has made a “strong start to the year, again becoming more competitive for customers while delivering growth on growth”.

“During a busy period of exciting new ranges, new store openings, strong supermarket and wholesale growth, and the peaks and troughs of the seasons, our colleagues once again did an outstanding job for customers,” he said. 

Morrisons’ full-year expectations remain unchanged and it said it is “confident of another strong year ahead”.