Morrisons has unveiled a market-beating Christmas sales performance, with like-for-like sales up 8.2 per cent excluding fuel in the six weeks to January 4.

Total sales were up 9.4 per cent, or 7.7 per cent including fuel, and the company said it experienced record levels of trade across its 382 stores, attracting 2.2 million extra customers.

It attributed its success to its focus on fresh food and on strong promotions, and confirmed that it was successfully achieving the targets laid out in its three-year optimisation plan.

The company is awaiting approval to acquire 38 Co-op stores, with the handover of the new stores due to start in the first quarter of the new financial year and expected to take six months.

Morrisons said it remained cautious about the consumer environment but expects to hit profit expectations.

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