Waitrose posted a like-for-like sales increase of 3.4%, as part of parent company The John Lewis Partnership’s results for the year ended 26 January 2013.

Gross sales were up 6.7% to £5.76bn at the grocery retailer, with revenue up 6.8% to £5.42bn, and operating profit up 12.2% to reach £292.3bn.

This week, Waitrose also announced it would be adding 400 more lines to its Essential Waitrose range, during the course of 2013, and developing around 300 of its existing lines.

Launched in 2009, the Essential range makes up around 18% of the supermarket’s sales, with around 1,800 lines currently.

Among its operational highlights, the retailer noted that 19 new branches had opened – 11 supermarkets and eight convenience stores – with 4,700 new and improved products launched.

“Particularly successful new lines have been ranges of celebration cakes and desserts and the Heston from Waitrose range of ready meals,” said the retailer.

Over the past financial year, Waitrose has also seen its online sales grow by a whopping 49%.

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