Aldi has reported that BWS sales grew 9.2% year-on-year at its stores over the Christmas trading period.

The retailer singled out BWS along with fresh British meat as star performing categories as it posted 7.9% sales growth.

It helped drive sales past the £1 billion mark during the four weeks to 24 December, the first time Aldi has ever broken through that barrier in the build-up to Christmas.

Its new stores clearly boosted the retailer’s growth, as it has now 874 outlets in the UK compared with 827 a year ago. It revealed that it remains on track to achieve its long-term target of 1,200 stores by 2025.

“More customers than ever before shopped with us this Christmas because they knew Aldi offered unbeatable value on premium products and the lowest prices on festive essentials,” said Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK

The retailer also said that it donated food equivalent to more than 440,000 meals to more than 500 charities in Britain over Christmas.