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03 October 2012 10:54
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Sainsbury's has said that its sales in the second quarter were "delivering continued out performance" as total sales rose 4.3% following a "unique and special summer".
The UK's third biggest supermarket chain has seen particular success from its top-end Taste The Difference range, which is seeing near double-digit growth.
While Tesco is shifting the focus away from non-food sales, Sainsbury's has seen the sector grow at a pace around three times that of food, with sales of products such as jeans doubling year-on-year.
Sainsbury's also continued with its aggressive expansion plans, opening five supermarkets, 28 convenience stores and two extensions, adding 267,000 square feet to its estate over the quarter.
Justin King, Chief Executive, said: "This has been a unique and special summer, during which we have delivered another quarter of good sales, outperforming the market in what remains a challenging retail environment."
He added: "We expect the challenging economic backdrop to persist, but by helping our customers to Live Well For Less through competitive pricing, targeted promotions, quality own label products, and outstanding customer service, we are positioned to perform well coming into the important Christmas period."
