Record-breaking Christmas, completes a strong quarter
· Total sales for third quarter up 7.0 per cent (4.5 per cent excluding fuel)
· Like-for-like sales for third quarter up 4.8 per cent (2.1 per cent excluding fuel)
· Two year like-for-like sales growth 5.7 per cent excluding fuel
· Christmas customer transactions up 1.5 million to 26 million1, increasing market share2
Justin King, Chief Executive, said, "This was a strong quarter, rounded off by our best Christmas ever, despite the economic backdrop. Across the quarter customers chose Sainsbury's to help them Live Well for Less, taking advantage of our great value offer during October and November and then treating themselves and their families over the holiday season. There were 26 million customer transactions in the Christmas week, 1.5 million more than last year.1 Like-for-like sales excluding fuel were up 2.1 per cent, which was on top of a market-beating Christmas in 2010, giving two-year like-for-like growth of 5.7 per cent. This performance would not have been possible without the fantastic efforts of our 150,000 colleagues.
