Upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose has received a record number orders through its website last week, it has been announced today.
Total orders on Waitrose.com rocketed to 67.5 per cent for a consecutive week. Its Dot.com Fulfilment Centre in Acton, West London reached record levels outside of the Christmas period.
Rain and cold weather has been the cause for keeping shoppers home, giving them a taste for more meat based meals.
Compared to last year mince beef sales rose to 31 per cent, beef joints up 40 per cent and casserole dishes to 28 per cent.
Convenience foods were purchased by customers wanting a dinner to eat whilst watching Wimbledon on the television.
Tom Athron, Finance Director, Waitrose commented: “Ready meals also had a good week, with sales up by 18 per cent, as shoppers looked for something quick, easy and warming to eat while watching sporting events such as the football and tennis.
He commented: “Sales of Oriental ready meals rose by 45 per cent, Italian by 55 per cent and traditional British dishes by 75 per cent.
“Mexican ready meals rose by a fantastic 272 per cent as we launched a host of new products to the range.”
In reporting on Tuesday Waitrose were one of the supermarket giants named as being involved in a meeting with the British retail Consortium (BRC) concerning the limitation of food wastage.
A new strategy due to roll out this year in tackling this issue will see the retailer‘s branches donate any food goods unsold to charity.
“This week we are pleased to announce our new commitment to enable all of our branches to donate surplus food to charities by the end of the year.
“This will play a significant role in furthering our support for local communities, as well as helping to achieve our aim of sending no waste to landfill by the end of 2012.”
