Sales from the fresh fish counters at Waitrose’s stores increased dramatically in the opening weeks of this year.
Boosted by a promotion, its fish counter sales were up 11 percent for the week ending 16 January, compared with the corresponding week of 2015. Within this category, whitefish sales were up 43 percent, salmon and trout sales leapt by 30 percent, smoked fish was up by 24 percent and oily fish sales were up by 224 percent.
Helen Hyde, Waitrose personnel director, said the U.K. retailer “saw massive uplifts of individual lines,” including smoked cod – up 214 percent, Alaska salmon – up 101 percent and Cornish sardines – up by 108 percent.
According to Hyde, customers were also purchasing lines traditionally associated with luxury dining, which resulted in a 37 percent increase in shellfish sales, 19 percent more exotic fish sales and a 29 percent rise in caviar sales.
