ROMANTICS splashed out on tens of thousands of oysters at Waitrose last week as Valentine’s Day demand for the delicacy lifted supermarket sales.

Feb 20 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Customers bought 22% more Valentine’s gifts and chocolates than last year, while the number of bottles of sparkling wine rose by 83%.

Waitrose, the grocery arm of retailer John Lewis, said the start of celebrations to mark Chinese New Year also inspired food shoppers – with sales of oriental meals rising by 66%.

Total sales were up by 9.5% in the week to last Saturday compared to the same week last year, at £91.4m.

John Lewis department stores lifted takings by 12.5% to £49.5m in the week – helped by strong gains for men’s and women’s fashions, beds and bedroom furniture.