LEEDS-based supermarket chain Asda today pledged to protect shoppers from inflationary pressures after revealing a 5 per cent rise in underlying first quarter sales.
The UK's second biggest grocer - part of the Wal-Mart group - said the like-for-like sales increase came as it tried to cut prices.
Andy Bond, president and chief executive , said the supermarket had to play its role in helping protect shoppers fr
om rising commodity prices, as they also faced steep increases in petrol and energy bills.
"Whilst today's results are encouraging, we mustn't become complacent - especially in the current economic climate," he said.
"We have a duty to lock down inflation by working with our suppliers, to cut costs to ensure that our customers are always getting the best possible deal on their weekly shopping."
Asda posted sales up 6.4 per cent on a comparative basis, excluding petrol, with the early Easter and February's extra day taken into account.
Total sales saw an increase in the "high single digits" for the first three months of the year, according to the chain.
It added it had also seen a "healthy" sales performance in April, with strong fresh food sales.
Sales of its premium own-label range, Extra Special, rose by 30 per cent in the first quarter, suggesting customers are still prepared to splash out.
The figures contributed to a better-than-expected first quarter performance from its parent group Wal-Mart Stores, the world's biggest retailer.
Wal-Mart banked a near-7 per cent increase in profits to £1.55bn in the three months to the end of April.
Revenues for the US retail giant rose to £48.9bn compared with £44.3bn in the first quarter the previous year.
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