// John Lewis Partnership’s overall weekly sales back into positive territory with 4.5% growth
// Waitrose weekly sales up 0.9%
// John Lewis weekly sales surges 11.4%
John Lewis Partnership’s weekly sales have made a comeback after a rocky start to the current financial year, boosted by a surge in fashion sales from its eponymous department store chain.
For the week ending March 2, sales at the retail group bounced back with 4.5 per cent growth year-on-year, from £198.21 million to £207.16 million.
This compares to a decline of 4.5 per cent recorded the week prior.
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However, for John Lewis Partnership’s financial year-to-date, sales were steady compared to the same year-to-date period last year.
After several weeks of being the weakest performer between the partnership’s two fascias, John Lewis this week made a comeback with 11.4 per cent year-on-year weekly sales growth – a contrast to the 4.8 per cent weekly sales decline recorded last week.
John Lewis attributed its positive performance to last week’s warmer-than-usual weather and saw growth across all categories, although its fashion department was by far the best performer with a 23.3 per cent year-on-year surge in weekly sales.
New season clothing was up 17 per cent as customers were refreshing their wardrobes due to the unseasonably warm weather, while beauty sales skyrocketed 37.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, home sales were up 5.2 per cent, boosted by a 22 per cent uptick in Mother’s Day gifting sales, 15.9 per cent growth in bath shop product sales, and 12 per cent growth in furniture.
Electrical and home technology sales were up five per cent, boosted by strong growth in wearable technology products and headphones.
Over at stablemate Waitrose, total sales excluding fuel were 0.9 per cent higher compared to the same weekly period last year.
The upmarket grocer said the unseasonably warm weather prompted sales of soft fruits, salads and prepared veg, and deli food.
Waitrose added that customers stocked up on maple syrup ahead of Pancake Day while Easter sales performed strongly, boosted by the return of the popular Waitrose Chocolate Avocado Easter egg.
