Sainsbury's to hike wages as Taste the Difference range lifts retailer to record Christmas
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Sainsbury's plans to boost staff wages after strong demand for Taste the Difference products helped lift the retailer to record Christmas sales. The supermarket giant said its staff would receive a 5 per cent pay hike over the coming year, split into two separate increases to help 'navigate a challenging cost environment'.
Both Sainsbury's and Argos employees will see their hourly wages rise to £12.45 in March, and £13.70 for those in London, before going up to £12.60 in August, and £13.85 for employees in the capital. It follows a festive 3.7 per cent uplift in turnover over the six weeks to 4 January, including a 16 per cent boost in revenues at its Taste the Difference range.
Food sales soared by almost 40 per cent while over 200 champagne bottles were bought every minute in the 'key days' ahead of Christmas, Sainsbury's said. Demand for the FTSE 100 company's general merchandise and clothing products expanded by 3.4 per cent, outperforming the market and all grocery rivals.
Simon Roberts, Sainsbury's chief executive, said the firm enjoyed rising market share for the fifth consecutive festive season, as well as its seventh successive quarter of market-beating volume growth. Wage rise: Sainsbury's said its staff would receive a five per cent pay hike over the coming year, split into two separate increases to help 'navigate a challenging cost environment'.
