Waitrose sales fell last week due to snow and icy conditions, but the partnership was buoyed by rising sales of electricals at John Lewis.

Sales at the upmarket grocer fell 3.4% in the eighth week of the year although they grew 4% in the first eight weeks to date.

Waitrose blamed the fall on snow in the early part of the week and the later fall of Mother’s Day the previous year.

Commercial director Rupert Thomas said: “Shoppers took steps to protect their vehicles from the inclement weather, with sales of car care products are up by 172% on last year. As well as stocking up for themselves in the cold, customers also thought to help their winged friends as sales of wild bird seed rose 15%.”

At John Lewis, sales rose 2.2%, although they were down 0.1% for the first eight weeks of the year.

The increase was driven by an 11.3% rise in electricals and home technology sales with beverage products, personal care and mobile all performing well.

The earlier fall of Mother’s Day saw beauty sales slump 11% and fashion sales dip 1.8%.

Home sales were down 2.4%. Bright spots included a 17.6% rise in living and dining sales and a 6.2% rise in menswear, including an 11% rise in swimwear.

Across the partnership, weekly sales fell 1.3% to £214.46m, while sales across the eight weeks were up 2.6%.