Not only did a strong week before Christmas see total Scottish sales for December 2016 beat the previous December, it created the strongest rise in sales since January 2014.
The Scottish retail Consortium – KPMG Retail Sales Monitor reported that, adjusted for inflation, total sales in Scotland rose by 2.1%.
Head of policy and external affairs for the SRC Ewan MacDonald-Russell said: “Grocery sales were strong, up 2.5% on December 2015, the best performance in over three years.
“Food sales were driven by a late surge in customers stocking up for Christmas.
“Non-food sales were also positive, although once again online sales were responsible for the sales growth.”
Craig Cavin of KPMG added: “Christmas feasts were the order of the month, with consumers happy to make the most of festive discounts.”
Symbol group Nisa reported strong Christmas trading with sales up by 2.7% to £235.6m for the ten weeks to 1 January.
CEO of Nisa Retail Nick Read said: “Improved Christmas trading performance was assisted by increased investment in Christmas promotions.
“We delivered a strong promotional mix to drive sales and footfall in our members’ stores.”
Craig McAulay of Scotmid in Stockbridge told Scottish Grocer his store had recorded a 10% increase in Christmas sales over the same period in 2015.
He said: “With Christmas on a Sunday it meant we had a full week of trading ahead of it and that really helped.”
Dougie Anderson said his Nisa Local Greens of Markinch store had its second Christmas since it was refitted and for the second year running it increased its seasonal sales.
He said their vegetable offers proved very popular and that they did particularly well in alcohol sales with a Nisa Prosecco promotion proving particularly popular.
