The John Lewis Partnership reported a 2.5 per cent year-on-year uplift in overall sales for last week.
The partnership’s eponymous John Lewis department store chain recorded a 0.7 per cent year-on-year increase in weekly sales, while grocery stablemate Waitrose saw weekly sales grow 2.9 per cent or 2.1 per cent for the year to date.
READ MORE:
Fashion sales at John Lewis rose by 4.5 per cent, boosted by 7.4 per cent growth in the womenswear category, which in turn was driven by a 12 per cent uptick in own-brand sales.
Electrical and home technology sales increased by 4.9 per cent as the department store enjoyed a strong week in the small electricals category due to the heatwave driving sales of fans and air purifiers.
Home sales dropped 6.3 per cent despite a 30 per cent sales increase of hydration products and a 13 per cent increase in sales of summer party items.
Meanwhile, Waitrose’s sales figures were boosted by the sunshine and warmer temperatures as it continued to influence what customers bought.
Barbecue meat sales were up by 40 per cent with specialty poultry sales seeing a 20 per cent uplift.
Alfresco dining was on the menu as prepared salad sales leapt by 13 per cent, salad dressings and dips were both up 20 per cent, olive sales were up 14 per cent and quiche sales were up by 11 per cent, while ice cream sales climbed by 37 per cent and ice cube sales jumped by 130 per cent.
Waitrose added that wine, beers and spirits sales had another good week.
Rosé sales, supported by strong promotional activity, had a record week, up 58 per cent while beer sales were up 18 per cent, cider up by 22 per cent and spirit sales increased by 13 per cent. Mixers were also up by 44 per cent.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
