Morrisons posts falling sales during ‘unusually challenging’ Christmas

The grocery chain posted a 1.7% decline in group like-for-like sales excluding fuel during the 22 weeks to January 5. Retail like for likes were down 1.7% and wholesale like for likes were flat during the period.

Total sales during the same period were down 1.8% excluding fuel.

During the three months to November 3, like-for-like sales excluding fuel were down 1.2%, with retail accounting for 1.1% and wholesale 0.1%. Total sales during the period excluding fuel were down 1.3%.

Morrisons said trading throughout the period “remained challenging” as customer uncertainty was sustained.

During the period, the supermarket chain opened four new stores, closed four underperforming stores and launched 25 Fresh Look stores.

The new store in Canning Town was the first location with a Market Kitchen food-to-go offering and it opened its first smaller community store in Bolsover.

Morrisons chief executive David Potts said: “It was encouraging that during an unusually challenging period for sales, our execution was strong and our profitability robust, demonstrating the broad-based progress we have made during the turnaround. 

“This was again down to the hard work of Morrisons’ exceptional team of food makers and shopkeepers. As always, we will take some learnings into the new year and look forward to 2020 with a strong plan and solid foundations on which to continue to grow.”