<p><img class=" size-full wp-image-289" src="http://halalnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/3804ba72-6477-11e1-b400-945eaa61402f-150x150.jpg" width="89" height="89" alt="3804ba72-6477-11e1-b400-945eaa61402f-150x150" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />&nbsp;</p> <section class="regular"> <div class="videoWrapper highlightVideo">&nbsp;</div> <strong></strong>Sainsbury's chief executive has reported a rise in sales over recent months - due in part to avoiding the horsemeat scandal.</section> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The supermarket - which says no traces of horsemeat have been found in its products - reported a 3.6% rise in like-for-like sales excluding fuel over the 10 weeks to March 16.</p> <p>Its market share also increased during the period, as food inspectors identified horsemeat in products sold by rivals including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.</p> <p>Justin King told Sky News: "Our sales have accelerated in the last couple of months.</p> <p>"I think most customers are quite aware that a good number of retailers have not had horsemeat in their food and they're been rewarded with some extra business."</p> <p>But Mr King added that he feels a sense of "there, but for the grace of God" as the food contamination scandal continues.</p> <p>The supermarket has been DNA testing its products for over 10 years, Mr King said, and uses only UK and Irish sourced beef in its products.</p> <p>"So there are good reasons why we've avoided the scandal," he said.</p> <p>But he added: "I think you have to be open minded to the possibility that it could still happen.</p> <p>"We've put all the checks and balances in place - have done for a long time and of course we've dialled them up now we're aware there is this problem."</p> <p>Sainsbury's, Britain's third largest supermarket chain, reported a 1.8% increase in like-for-like sales over the year excluding fuel.</p> <p>Its results were helped by a strong performance online - where sales were up almost 20% year-on-year - and by its convenience store business, which grew at over 18%.</p> <p>Market researcher Kantar Worldpanel said the supermarket's market share increased to 17% in the 12 weeks to February 17 from 16.9% a year earlier.</p> <p>Source :news sky .com</p>