Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) has seen a boom in sales in the run-up to Christmas as shoppers flock for premium goods ahead of the festive season, industry figures show.
NIQ reported on Wednesday that M&S’ grocery sales ticked up 10.6% against a year earlier in the three months to the end of November.
Kantar separately flagged a similar surge in food and drink sales at M&S, which also deals in clothing and homeware, on Tuesday.
Almost one in three households had shopped for groceries at M&S, Kantar highlighted, ahead of a further anticipated boost to sales across the sector as Christmas neared.
M&S had previously guided towards strong festive trading in interim results, which showed first-half profits up 17%.
Overall, sales growth across the sector in November slowed from 4.0% to 3.7%, according to NIQ, with consumers said to be holding out until December to finalise Christmas shopping.