John Lewis Partnership rings in 2019 with 9.1% sales boost

// Overall weekly sales up 9.1%

// Waitrose weekly sales up 7.5%

// John Lewis weekly sales up 11.2%

John Lewis Partnership welcomed the new year on a high after it recorded a 9.1 per cent boost in overall weekly sales.

For the week ending January 5, the parent company of the John Lewis and Waitrose saw weekly sales come in at £237.87 million, a marked improvement on the £217.95 million recorded the same week last year, and also more than the £214.88 million recorded the year before that.

However, for the 49 weeks of the partnership’s fiscal year so far, total sales remained almost flat year-on-year.

Between the partnership’s John Lewis and Waitrose fascias, the former was the star performer thanks to an 11.2 per cent year-on-year growth in weekly revenue after what was the first full week of post-Christmas clearance sales.

Fashion sales at the department store spiked up 20.4 per cent, while home sales grew 1.7 per cent and electrical and home technology sales were up 11.7 per cent.

Total weekly sales excluding fuel at stablemate Waitrose were up 7.5 per cent compared to the same week last year, which was boosted by the additional day of sales in the run-up to New Year’s Eve.

Customers were in celebratory mood as champagne and sparkling wine sales surged 48 per cent and 27 per cent respectively on last year.

Spirit sales were also strong with liqueurs up 45 per cent, imported whiskey up 38 per cent, tequila up 37 per cent, cognac up 36 per cent, vermouth up 34 per cent and gins up by more than 31 per cent.

Last week, Waitrose launched its vegan “fish-less” fingers, which helped sales of its vegan and vegetarian ranges increase by 110 per cent.

The John Lewis Partnership is expected to unveil its Christmas trading update, covering the full six weeks ending December 29, later this week.

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