Despite the recession, Dutch supermarkets saw their combined sales rise by 4.3% over the first six months of this year, says sector monitor Gfk Panel Servies.

Last year, supermarket turnover reached €14.9bn in the first six months. This year it has risen to €15.6bn, Gfk said.
One reason for the rise is that customers are making more trips to the supermarket as they shop around for bargains, Gfk said.