Sainsbury supermarkets said today total sales in its supermarkets rose 3.2 per cent over the 12-week period to January 6th with like-for-like sales up 0.7 per cent.
In the year to date like-for-like sales were up 1.9 per cent and total sales were 4.3 per cent higher.
The company said it is on course to achieve its aim of stabilising pre-tax profit before goodwill, exceptional costs, non-operating items and e-commerce in the current year.
Shaw's like-for-like sales rose 1.3 per cent during the third quarter.
Sainsbury said: "Homebase achieved 5 per cent like-for-like sales growth during the quarter and total sales were up 5.7 per cent. Christmas trading was strong but the post-Christmas Sale started slowly due to adverse weather conditions across the country."
The group announced the sale of Homebase to Schroder Ventures in December.
AFP