
Like for like sales, during the 28 weeks to 3 October grew 5.7%, excluding new store sales. Pre-tax profit at the UK's third largest supermarket chain was up 32% to £342m.
Alongside growth in the non-food category, has seen large growth in products with ethical credentials during the period. The supermarket said it stocks the largest range of RSPCA Freedom Food and is the largest retailer of fair-trade products by sales value in the UK.
In September Sainsbury's launched ‘coupon at till', its biggest investment in customer loyalty since the launch of Nectar. The scheme issues coupons offering discounts on branded and Sainsbury's own-brand products, a service which will be in all stores by the end of November.
According to TNS Worldpanel data published yesterday, Sainsbury's continues to grow its market share. Compared with the same period last year, in the 12 weeks to 1 November its grocery share increase from 15.7% to 15.9%.