Rejuvenated retailer Marks & Spencer has given further evidence that its recovery is on track with strong festive figures.
The group said in the seven weeks to January 12, like-for-like sales -- which do not include the effect of store openings and closures -- rose 8.3 per cent. Food sales rose 5.4 per cent on a like-for-like basis, while sales of clothing, footwear, gifts and home goods rose 10.4 per cent.
Chairman and chief executive Luc Vandevelde said: "Our customers are clearly coming back and buying more and we are encouraged by these numbers, clearly achieved in a very buoyant period."
The new Per Una womenswear collection, designed by former Next boss George Davies, represented 15 per cent of womenswear space and revenue in those stores.
The upbeat statement follows a 20 per cent half-year profit rise recorded in November by M&S, which has stores in Oxford and Banbury.
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