Woolies’ sales grow

WOOLWORTHS has outpaced rival Coles’ sales growth for a sixth consecutive quarter.

Comparable food sales at Woolworths’ Australian supermarkets grew four per cent to $9.57 billion for the 13 weeks to April 1, after adjusting figures for the timing of Easter.

It exceeds Coles’ 1.3 per cent like-for-like third-quarter growth. Investors were impressed, driving Woolworths shares up 25 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to close at $27.99.

For the past year and a half, Woolworths’ quarterly sales have been surpassing Coles after it spent many years in the shadow of the Wesfarmersowned supermarket chain. Chief executive Brad Banducci said the progress was pleasing.