Woolworths’ overall sales for the first quarter of 2011 were up 4.9% to AUD14.6bn (£9.6bn). Net sales at its supermarket division including fuel grew 5.8% to AUD12.56bn (£8.27bn), bolstered by a 17% rise in revenue from fuel.

Its Australian food and liquor sales increased 4.4% compared with the same period last year.