Sainsbury beats Q3 growth forecast

LONDON: J Sainsbury, Britain's No 3 grocer, beat third-quarter sales growth forecasts yesterday, as rising customer numbers and strong sales of non-food ranges offset lower food price inflation.

However the 141-year-old firm, which runs over 500 supermarkets and about 300 convenience stores, joined other retailers in injecting a note of caution about prospects for 2010, saying the consumer environment remained "challenging".

Sales at shops open at least a year rose 4.2 percent, excluding petrol and VAT sales tax, in the 13 weeks to Jan 2.