// John Lewis Partnership’s overall weekly sales declines 8.4%
// Waitrose weekly sales down 10.2%
// John Lewis weekly sales slump 5.3%
The shorter trading week due to the closure of most shops on Easter Sunday has been cited as the main reason behind the John Lewis Partnership’s weekly sales slump.
For the week ending April 27, weekly sales at the partnership dropped 8.4 per cent to £197.97 million compared to the same week last year, when it £216 million.
The decline comes after three consecutive weeks of sales growth in the lead-up to Easter.
READ MORE:
For John Lewis Partnership’s financial year-to-date, sales had declined by a marginal 0.6 per cent compared to the first 13 weeks last year.
Waitrose was the worst performing of the partnership’s two retail fascias, with a weekly sales decline of 10.2 per cent.
The grocer said sales were distorted by the later fall of Easter this year, which meant that there were six days of trading, due to the closure of many shops on Easter Sunday, compared to a full week last year.
Waitrose saw growth in its cleaning products and bakery sections, as well as the launch of the largest ever Scrumptious Summer range.
Meanwhile, total weekly sales at stablemate John Lewis declined 5.3 per cent year-on-year.
Like Waitrose, the department store attributed the drop to the majority of shops being closed on Easter Sunday and warm weather during the bank holiday affecting footfall.
Fashion sales were down 9.5 per cent, despite a boost in womens accessories and the own-brand sunshine yello trench coats.
Home sales were down 6.8 per cent, while electrical and home technology was the department that saw growth, with sales increasing 1.5 per cent.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
