Co-op sales rise as shoppers stay closer to home

Image copyright CO-OP

Grocery chain the Co-op saw sales rise in the first half of the year as customers shopped closer to home and ate out less during the pandemic.

Like-for-like sales in food, which strip out the effect of new shops opening, increased by 8.8% in the six months to 24 July.

Its boss said: "We are living in unprecedented times, but the response of our Co-op has been exceptional."

Co-op expects coronavirus-related costs to hit £97m for the full year.