Getty Images J Sainsbury, Britain's third-biggest grocer, met forecasts with a pick-up in quarterly sales driven by growth at local convenience stores and online, outperforming rivals

including market leader Tesco. (_Read More_: UK retailer Tesco launches cut-price tablet) The group, which trails Tesco and No. 2 player Wal-Mart's Asda by annual revenue, said on

Wednesday sales at stores open over a year rose 2.0 percent, excluding fuel, in the 16 weeks to Sept. 28, its fiscal second quarter. The outcome, a 35th consecutive quarter of underlying

sales growth, compares with analysts' forecasts of a rise of 1.5-2.8 percent and first quarter growth of 0.8 percent. (_Read More_: Tesco Quits US and Takes $3.5 Billion Global