John Lewis Partnership has posted a seven per cent increase in sales for the 25th week of this year.
The employee owned group has already achieved £183.39m sales this year; already more than the £171.46m it posted for last year.
The partnership, which owns John Lewis and Waitrose, also announced that department store‘s sales had dipped by 1.2 per cent for the 25th week after temperatures hit 30C across the country.
Andy Street, Managing Director of John Lewis said: “Trade has certainly been challenging during the four weeks of July. But the indications are that the heatwave is nearing a conclusion. Therefore this, the last week of the half, does give us the opportunity to make up some lost ground.
Street added that the lower-key presence one-year anniversary of the Olympic Games opening ceremony could boost the firm and provide a ‘clearer run.‘
Electrical cooling products and cameras have continued to sell well at John Lewis, while the health craze for juicers and the practical need for refrigeration propelled trade.
Meanwhile, grocers Waitrose continued its buoyant sales tradition in July as it posted a sales increase of 14.3 per cent compared to last year.
Ice creams, its range of barbecue meats, sushi and the ‘Food to Go‘ salads enjoyed their biggest ever week of sales as shoppers flocked to the upmarket grocer in the hot weather.
