Take-off for sales at airport stores

HOLIDAY reads, London memorabilia and meal deals lifted sales at WH Smith’s travel outlets.

Stores in airports and stations performed particularly well in the 15 weeks to June 10 with sales rocketing 8pc.

That offset a fall in the retailer’s high street business, where sales were down 4pc and like-for-like sales also slumped 4pc. As a result, overall group sales were up 2pc.

WH Smith said meal deals are its best-selling items and make up more than 50pc of stock in a typical travel store.

Holiday books such as Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena and Maggie O’Farrell’s This Must be the Place, also did well.