Festive boost for Morrisons supermarket

existing outlets. It has 169 stores in the UK.

Mr Thompson said: “FatFace has outperformed the market in the first half, while maintaining a full-price trading stance.

“Our US stores continue to perform well and we look forward to further openings.

“This, together with a new distribution centre and launch of a new website, underpinned a great first half for the group.” SUPERMARKET Morrisons has thanked surging sales of its premium range and efforts to keep a lid on prices for better-than-expected Christmas trading.

The Bradford-based chain said group like-for-like sales excluding fuel jumped 2.8% in the 10 weeks to January 7, with retail sales up 2.1% and wholesale 0.7% ahead.

It said it enjoyed an “especially strong” festive season as sales picked up pace in the last seven weeks — up 3.7% across the group after a 2.8% jump in retail and 0.9% wholesale rise.

The group cheered a 25% yearon-year leap in sales of its Best premium range, while it also saw solid sales of its Nutmeg range of children’s clothing and a good response to its recently overhauled non-food offering.

The UK’s fourth biggest supermarket kicked off the festive trading updates with a stronger-than-forecast set of numbers, after analysts had pencilled in a 1.7% rise in group sales for the 10 weeks.

Shares lifted as much as 4% before paring back to stand 2% higher after its trading update.