Sainsbury’s beats sales forecasts

Sainsbury, which trails industry leader Tesco and Leeds-based Asda by market share, said sales at stores open over a year, excluding fuel, rose 1.9 per cent in the 16 weeks to September 29, its fiscal second quarter.

Many retailers across Europe are struggling as consumers’ disposable incomes have been squeezed by rising prices, muted wages growth and government austerity measures, and confidence has been sapped by the euro zone debt crisis.

The results at Sainsbury, which enjoyed a healthy profile boost from its sponsorship of the London Paralympic Games, compared with Tesco’s 0.1 per cent sales uptick in its home market after 18 months of decline.

Sainsbury’s outperformance over rivals has been helped by strong growth online and in smaller convenience stores where it is attracting thrifty customers looking for top-up shops rather than bulk buys.

Its sales growth compares with analysts’ average forecast of 1.4 per cent, a rise of the same magnitude in the firm’s first quarter, and represents a 31st consecutive quarter of underlying sales growth.

“We expect the challenging economic backdrop to persist, but... we are positioned to perform well coming into the important Christmas period,” Chief Executive Justin King said.

Total sales in the period were up 4.3 per cent, and 4.4 per cent excluding fuel.

The group said its online business grew over 20 per cent year-on-year, while it opened 49 convenience stores in the first half of the year, with expansion continuing at a rate up to two new store openings per week.

The company also benefited from the success of its “Brand Match” pricing promotion, market share gains in general merchandise and own-label food ranges, which Sainsbury said was increasing at a faster penetration rate than any of its rivals.

Non-food increased its pace of growth to around three times that of food, it added.

Last month, Sainsbury commercial director Mike Coupe said he hoped the feel good factor engendered by the success of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games could mark a turning point for retail demand in a nation enduring a double dip recession.

Last month, Bradford-based Wm Morrison Supermarkets posted first-half earnings towards the top end of forecasts but said it had eased back on its investment drive, cautioning that high fuel prices and Government austerity measures were likely to weigh on consumer spending well into next year.