Waitrose annual results to 30 January 2010 have highlighted the following:

Gross sales up £375.9m, 9.0%, to £4.5bn (on 52 week basis up 11.1%)

Like-for-like store growth of 3.6% (excluding petrol and on a 52 week basis)

Operating profit, excluding property gains, increased by £56.7m, 26.8%, to £268.2m. Including property gains, operating profit increased by £53.9m, 25.1%, to £268.4m

Invested £25m in price competitiveness

Continued expansion - 25 new shops in 2009 plus expansion with strategic partners

essential Waitrose launched - over 1,400 everyday products

The company commented: “It was a year of significant investment and innovation across Waitrose, with the shops and the brand becoming more accessible to many more shoppers. This resulted in market-leading growth that accelerated in the second half of the year leading to a very strong financial performance.

“Gross sales were up by 9.0% (£375.9m) to £4.5bn and on a 52-week basis sales were 11.1% higher. Like-for-like sales grew 3.6%, excluding petrol, and were up 5.3% in the second half of the year. Operating profit before property gains increased by £56.7m, or 26.8%, to £268.2m.

“Each week up to 400,000 more people are shopping at Waitrose, compared to this time last year, and average basket size has increased by 8.4% which represents almost one extra item in every basket.”