Sainsbury’s hit by decline in general merchandise sales
Sainsbury’s has delivered a mixed set of trading results for its third trading quarter, with a decline in general merchandise sales offset by online sales.
In the 15 weeks to 4 January, Sainsbury’s reported a decline in general merchandise of 3.9%. Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, fell 0.7% during the third quarter.
Grocery sales grew by 0.4%, while total online sales rose by 5%.
Sainsbury’s has delivered a mixed set of trading results for its third trading quarter, with a decline in general merchandise sales offset by online sales.
In the 15 weeks to 4 January, Sainsbury’s reported a decline in general merchandise of 3.9%. Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, fell 0.7% during the third quarter.
Grocery sales grew by 0.4%, while total online sales rose by 5%.
Mike Coupe, chief executive of J Sainsbury plc, said: “We have a real sense of momentum in Sainsbury’s and investment in our stores and improvements to service and availability have led to our highest customer satisfaction scores of the year.
“Our digital investments are also paying off and over 20% of our business was online in the quarter. Groceries Online had record order numbers throughout the Christmas period and customers are increasingly choosing to shop with SmartShop in our supermarkets. Argos had its biggest digital Black Friday to date and record sales through mobile and via Argos Click and Collect.”
During the quarter, Sainsbury’s invested in 127 supermarkets and 93 convenience stores.
It opened 10 Argos stores in Sainsbury’s supermarkets, bringing the total to 298 and added six new convenience stores in the quarter, including its first “large convenience” format store at Woodhall Spa. The retailer also opened two new supermarkets in South Woodham Ferrers in Essex and Olney near Milton Keynes.
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