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.

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

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.

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

Sainsbury's, Britain's second biggest supermarket group, on Friday reported a 2.8% rise in underlying sales for the key Christmas quarter, with solid grocery sales offset by a weaker performance in general merchandise.