Waitrose boosted by 19 Safeway stores

Waitrose's turnover has rocketed 10 per cent since it bought 19 former Safeway stores from Morrisons in March.

Latest TNS market share figures showed Waitrose's sales rose to£527 million for the 12 weeks to August 15, compared with£479 million for the same period last year.

Its share rose from 3 per cent to 3.2 per cent over the 12-week period.

However, Tesco's share was 28.1 per cent, compared with 26.8 per cent the previous year. TNS Superpanel communications director Edward Garner said: 'In terms of straight cash growth year on year, Tesco dominates, adding more than two and a half times the turnover gained by the Morrisons fascia.'

Asda's share stood at 16.6 per cent, Sainsbury's at 15.4 per cent and Morrisons/Safeway at 13.9 per cent.