• UK like-for-likes in six weeks to January 7 up 0.7% 
  • Fresh food performance particularly strong
  • Group like-for-likes over Christmas rise 0.3%
  • Third quarter UK like-for-likes up 1.8%

Tesco has reported a 0.7% rise in Christmas UK like-for-likes after a strong performance in fresh food.

The grocery giant has continued its comeback as it said food like-for-likes in the UK increased 1.3% in the six weeks to January 7. 

Third-quarter UK like-for-likes rose 1.8%.

Boss Dave Lewis said: “We are very encouraged by the sustained strong progress that we are making across the group.

“In the UK, we saw our eighth consecutive quarter of volume growth and delivered a third successful Christmas.”

In Christmas trading, Tesco said there was “good growth” on core festive grocery and fresh ranges, including a 24% jump in party food sales and an 18% increase in “free from” sales.

Clothing and toys also performed strongly for Tesco with like-for-likes up 4.3% and 8.5% respectively.

The retailer said its total UK like-for-likes were also dragged down 0.8% from not repeating its Clubcard ‘Boost’ promotion in the period.

International like-for-likes slipped 1.2% in the six-week period after cycling a strong performance last year and weaker spending in Thailand.

In its third quarter, in the 13 weeks to November 26, Tesco said it had its first quarterly market share gain since 2011.

International like-for-likes rose 0.6% in the period. Group like-for-likes climbed 1.5%.

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