Wise firms were following the rising star of online non-food sales, which were up by 18%.
On a like-for-like basis, food sales rose 0.3% but sales of general merchandise dropped 3.8%.
Food sales increased by 4.9%, despite the previous year's figure being inflated by pre-millennium stockpiling.
While total non-food sales were down 4.7%, sales of clothing were described as positive.
Like-for-like UK sales were 0.6% higher in the quarter, helped by a 4% increase in food sales.
Food sales were up by 1%, despite the horsemeat scandal which threatened to affect the big supermarkets.
BBC: UK retail sales grew at fastest rate for years in February
Despite higher prices, sales of such foods currently grow annually more than twice as fast as overall food sales.
FORBES: Panera And Chipotle Profit As Americans Develop Distaste For Home Cooking
Clothing sales fell by 1.7% and sales of household products dropped by 3.2%, but food sales rose by 0.7%.
Buffalo, NY-style chicken wings (boneless and traditional) dominate at this sports-bar themed chain, accounting for 39% of food sales.
Non-food sales have declined by 6.7% over 24 months which is the worst since the survey started in 1999.
BBC: Olympics 'distracted' Scottish shoppers says retail body
This marks the sixth consecutive quarter with a drop in its non-food sales.
FORBES: British Retailer Marks & Spencer Struggles To Do It All
At Sara Lee, for instance, Paul Simmons, an ex-army officer, is in charge of food sales to the armed forces.
ECONOMIST: Did America's big food companies overcharge the troops?
For this reason the Olympics will boost food sales more than non-food products, predicts the British Retail Consortium, a trade association.
For the January to March quarter, like-for-like food sales were up 2.5% compared with a year ago, while non-food sales rose 1.9%.
The Office for National Statistics said that sales in December were 0.1% lower than November, but clothing and food sales particularly struggled.
Food sales rose 0.4%, while sales of clothing and footwear fell 1.8%.
According to Adam Law at Barclays Capital, the unexpected weakness in May sales was largely down to a fall in food sales.
The company saw like-for-like sales rise 1.1% in the ten weeks to July 19, driven by a 5.1% rise in food sales.
Food sales, which now account for 60% of its business, led the strong results, rising 8% on a like-for-like basis in the year.
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) said total sales grew by 2.1% in January, with food sales up by 5.2% on a year ago.
Yet Wal-Mart accounts for almost 6% of retail and food sales in the U.S.--7.5% if you include car sales, according to the report.
Food sales have been sluggish, and operating margins have fallen as a result of the extra space and staff needed for these services.
Food sales were 5.2% up on March last year but non-food sales fell by 1.4%, dragged down by cold weather which hit clothing and footwear.
The move improved margins, but food sales slipped 3% last year.
The Department of Commerce released retail and food sales numbers as well, with a 0.5% gain through April, showing that consumers, while timid, continue to spend.
FORBES: PPI And Sales Up As Inflation Debate Enters New Territory
Family Dollar Stores (FDO) announced that it earned a higher profit due to food sales, though margins remained tight, and earnings were hit by a litigation settlement.
Nonetheless, with live music, dancing, bingo and private functions already existing revenue streams, and food sales not an option, the future for Herne Bay Ex-Servicemen's Club remains unclear.
BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Kent | Members' club bemoans smoking ban
One study by my organization, the Hudson Institute, has found that food companies with higher percentages of healthier food sales in their portfolios report healthier bottom lines.
应用推荐