Santa's gift to SA retailers

Commenting on sales performance over the period, three retailers have said that sales volumes were better than expected.

Massmart, owner of chain stores such as Makro and Game, said sales for the 26-week period to 28 December were up 13.2% to R22.8-billion, representing genuine growth in a tough consumer spending environment.

Massmart said that comparable store sales increased 11.9%.

Massdiscounters increased 12.9% with an inflation of 1.8%; Masswarehouse increased 14.8% with inflation of 11.9%; Massbuild increased 1.4% with inflation of 10.6%; and Masscash increased 17.3% with inflation of 15.9%.

Grocer retailer Shoprite, expected to release its full trading statement tomorrow, said festive season sales were better than forecast.

Brian Weyers, the group's marketing director, said that the group had successfully achieved its budgeted figures for the 2008 festive period.

Pick n Pay's comments last week suggested that it did not have a bad festive trading period either. It was “not disappointed” with festive sales; consumers showed “amazing resilience”, and sales were above forecasts.

Pick n Pay said the percentage of shoppers making last-minute purchases three days before Christmas was far higher than in previous years.

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