Sainsbury’s told shareholders it is on track to increase its profits for the year, in line with previous targets.

The British grocer reported sales volume growth for the key Christmas period and expects to deliver retail operating profit for its fiscal year in line with market consensus.

The UK's second-largest grocery chain, trailing only Tesco, reported robust sales over the festive period, with party food and bottles of fizz in high demand

Sainsbury's, Britain's second biggest supermarket group, is on track to deliver full-year profit growth of around 7%, it said on Friday, after robust food sales over the Christmas quarter offset weakness in general merchandise.

Supermarket workers will see their hourly wage increase by 60p an hour - higher than the new minimum wage due to be introduced in April