Investing.com-- Woolworths (ASX: WOW ) reported a 3.2% rise in third-quarter sales on Thursday, driven by strong eCommerce growth and improved customer sentiment, though cost-of-living pressures continued to weigh on some segments.

Group sales for Australia’s largest supermarket chain reached A$17.3 billion ($11.10 billion) for the 13 weeks ended April 6, with eCommerce surging 15.7% to A$2.2 billion.

Australian Food sales rose 3.6%, supported by lower prices and improved item growth, while New Zealand Food sales climbed 4.8% in local currency terms.

CEO Amanda Bardwell highlighted progress in retail fundamentals but noted persistent consumer uncertainty.

"Cost of living remains a concern for customers, however customer scores were largely stable during the quarter and sales growth rates improved modestly across the Group," she said.

BIG W sales fell 1.5%, though Easter-adjusted figures showed growth, while Petstock sales dropped 9.7% due to store divestments.

Severe weather in Queensland and Northern NSW led to A$20–25 million in additional costs due to logistics and stock loss, the company said.