John Lewis Partnership’s weekly year-on-year sales have risen 2.1 per cent to £203.87 million as people began to stock up on alcohol and buy spring/summer ranges.
Sales at its grocery arm Waitrose in the week to February 24 jumped 3.2 per cent, driven by a 7.5 per cent rise in beer, wines and spirits, having become the first UK supermarket to stock Japanese craft gin brand Roku.
The current cold snap also drove a peak in cold and flu medicine purchases rising 17 per cent, along with a nine per cent rise in soups.
Meanwhile, John Lewis’ growth was more reserved rising 0.3 per cent.
Electricals and home technology helped keep the department store in growth, rising 2.1 per cent including a 4.5 per cent growth in TVs, small electrical items and large electrical items.
Womenswear also performed well, enjoying a 6.3 per cent growth despite the retailer’s fashion sector rising just 0.4 per cent.
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