Tesco posts 0.6% Christmas UK growth

Retailer Tesco has reported UK like-for-like sales growth of 0.6 per cent for the six weeks ending January 8th 2011.

Overall UK sales were up 4.2 per cent with new store sales up 3.6 per cent.

Overall Tesco Group sales were up 7.6 per cent over the period, with European sales up 5.6 per cent and US sales up 36.9 per cent.

Non-food numbers were impacted both by the comparison with 2009’s strong performance in the category and by the bad weather, though Tesco did report growth in the video games, toys and books sectors, with more than 2.5m customers in total.

Online reportedly enjoyed "double digit" growth, with Tesco Direct sales up 18 per cent year-on-year.

The Group has continued to make good progress, helped by strong growth across our international businesses, which delivered over half of the Group’s growth," chief executive Terry Leahy said.

"Our performance remains solid but was hindered in the run up to the important Christmas trading period in the UK by the disruptive effects of the severe winter weather conditions. Our staff and suppliers did a fantastic job in delivering a great shopping trip for customers in difficult circumstances.”