John Lewis Partnership’s total weekly sales were impacted by last week’s “extreme” weather conditions.

Waitrose & Partners’ total weekly sales were down 1.1% for the week to July 27 compared to the same period the previous year.

Ambient food fell 1.4% and non-ambient food declined 0.8%; however, soft fruit and ice-creams registered a boost, along with its sparkling and rosé wine ranges, reflecting the hot temperatures mid-week.

The grocer’s home and general merchandise sales declined 3.2%.

John Lewis & Partners’ total sales for the same week decreased 0.3%, with an 8.5% fall in the department store’s home sales.

However, both fashion, and electrical and home technology, sales increased – by 3.2% and 4.1% respectively.

Fashion sales were driven by a demand for summer womenswear and families preparing for the start of the school term in September, with school shoe sales up 4%.

Due to the hot weather, the department store’s sales of fans, air purifiers and air-conditioning units soared 193% compared with the same week the previous year.

John Lewis Partnership’s total weekly sales were down 0.8% to £208.57m.