M&S has reported its “best ever Christmas” for food with total sales increasing by 3.7% and like-for-like sales rising by 0.4%.
Ironically, poor performance across the group’s general merchandise has resulted in M&S chief executive, Marc Bolland, announcing his retirement, from April this year, when he will be succeeded by current general merchandise director, Steve Rowe.
Despite the group’s overall problems, however, the festive season food report is extremely positive.
“M&S had an excellent Christmas in food, delivering record Christmas sales and strongly outperforming the market,” said Mr Bolland (pictured above).
“Our food business had its best ever Christmas, significantly outperforming the market, with record sales over the festive period, up 17% in the key Christmas week. We have now delivered 25 consecutive quarters of LFL sales growth.”
M&S is a 100% supplier of British pork, bacon and sausages, according to the latest Porkwatch figures, and a 98% supplier of British ham.