YEAR ON YEAR RISE IN FESTIVE SALES FOR HEART OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

The Heart of England Co-operative Society, the largest independent retailer in Coventry, Warwickshire, south Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, is celebrating significant increases in sales over the festive period.

Year-on-year figures show the Society’s Non-Food sales topped £3.5 million during the seven week period – up almost 14 per cent over the year.

Food sales during the same period topped £8.2 million, compared to £7.8 million last year – an increase of almost 5 per cent.

Among the Society’s 55 branches showing the largest increases were the two recently refurbished and re-branded food stores. During the week of December 21st the Southam Co-operative achieved a 37 per cent sales rise over the same period last year. Also that week the Earlsdon Co-operative achieved a 21 per cent year on year increase.

Non-Food sales saw their biggest increase straight after Christmas. Over the week commencing December 28th the Non-Food Division showed an increase of 27.6 per cent year on year. Individual branches recorded percentage rises of between 19 per cent and 64 per cent, with customers snapping up furniture and electrical bargains in particular.

Ali Kurji, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Co-operative Society, said: “We are delighted to report an increase in year on year sales over the festive period. It is no secret that the retail industry has suffered a huge loss in the past two years and this country has lost a number of its most established traders along the way.