Retail Week was hoist by its own petard following the arrival of snow earlier this week.

Two weeks ago we drew attention to what looked like an ill-timed deal in the Balham branch of Sainsbury’s, where, during one of the warmest winters for years, snow shovels were advertised as manager’s choice. “Does the grocer know something we don’t?” we asked. “Clearly he does,” quips Sainsbury’s group commercial director Mike Coupe. Coupe tells us with relish that the grocer sold 11,000 of said shovels last week.