Today’s Group - the wholesale arm of Nisa-Today’s - has reported a year-on-year volume increase of 13.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

The group reported a 17.8 per cent volume increase in the grocery category, a 13.9 per cent uplift in impulse products, and a 5.7 per cent increase in non-food categories.

The licensed category experienced high levels of growth with volume up 23.6 per cent, with beer the strongest performer, up 35.2 per cent.

Nick Barker, trading director at Today’s Group, said: “To be experiencing such strong trading figures given the current economic downturn is particularly impressive and we are very pleased to be in such a positive position. We finished last year in a very strong position, our best for five years, and this quarter’s data is even more robust. We’re delighted and confident that our next quarter will be as equally impressive.”