// Waitrose weekly sales increase 1.6%
// John Lewis weekly sales surge 11.9%
A week of cold weather has helped John Lewis Partnership’s high street brands to record another week of positive sales growth.
For the week ending October 12, sales at the partnership shot increased 5.7 per cent year-on-year, from £210.82 million to £222.92 million.
This marked the third consecutive weekly sales growth after the parent company of Waitrose and John Lewis endured lacklustre weekly updates throughout most of September.
For John Lewis Partnership’s year-to-date, sales slipped by 0.8 per cent year-on-year – although this was an improvement on last week’s one per cent year-to-date drop.
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John Lewis was once again main driver of the partnership’s overall sales growth, with weekly sales shooting up 11.9 per cent year-on-year.
The department store chain attributed this to customers purchasing new season items due to cooler weather and promotions across the home and fashion sections.
Home sales were up 13.8 per cent as customers begin to prepare their homes for the festive season, with Christmas product sales up 25 per cent.
Home sales were also boosted by a 7.4 per cent uptick in furniture and flooring as well as a 26 per cent surge in carpets.
Meanwhile, the fashion department saw weekly sales grow 13.7 per cent, boosted by new seasonal ranges across womenswear and menswear, which both saw increases of 28 per cent and 25.9 per cent respectively.
The electrical and home technology department also enjoyed growth, with weekly sales up 9.5 per cent.
Over at Waitrose, total sales excluding fuel were up 1.6 per cent compared to the same week last year.
Ambient sales grew 2.4 per cent, chilled and fresh food sales increased 1.6 per cent and home and general merchandise sales declined 3.1 per cent.
The grocer said that as the temperature dropped, winter and comfort foods proved popular with sales of soups up six per cent and ready meals up 7.5 per cent.
Halloween preparations are also ramping up, with pumpkin sales increasing and Halloween bakery sales skyrocketing 71 per cent.
