Wellies boost festive sales

The Original Factory Shop, the discount retailer, delivered a 5 per cent spike in underlying sales over Christmas, following a surge in demand for Wellington boots during the cold snap.

The chain, which is owned by the private equity firm Duke Street, sold more than 100,000 wellies over the six weeks to 26 December, an average of one pair every nine seconds.

Total sales at Original Factory Shop's more than 160 UK outlets jumped by 23 per cent and by 5 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

While footfall into its high street stores was affected by the snow, shoppers stepped up their purchases of gifts and items such as fleeces.