Tesco’s bakery sales are ahead of budget and up year-on-year, category manager Andy Brocklehurst told British Baker this week.

Speaking after the supermarket reported record sales, as it delivered its Christmas trading statement last week, Brocklehurst said there had been good growth across the bakery category. Sales growth was driven by speciality and Finest branded own-label premium breads, he revealed. But the supermarket also saw good growth in branded bread and cakes.

Tesco is gearing up to relaunch its in-store bakery ranges at the end of February, Brocklehurst said. It will then relaunch its cakes in March and morning goods in June and July.

Brocklehurst said there was a move towards removing additives colours and flavours in Tesco bakery. He commented that organic was an area that was set to grow. "Organic is not as big as it should be in bakery," he said. "It’s something we will address."

Last week, Tesco said it saw strong growth and record sales over the Christmas and New Year period. Group sales, excluding petrol, increased by 9.9% in the six weeks to 6 January 2007.

It added in its statement: "Many customers chose from our Tesco Finest and organic ranges over the period. Sales of fresh organic foods were up by 39%, and Finest meat and poultry sales grew by over 55%."

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