John Lewis sales soared 14.5% in the week to August 18 as the Olympic feel-good factor continued beyond the Games.
John Lewis director of retail operations development Simon Russell said: “There were no post-Olympic Games blues for customers, with the feel-good factor of 65 medals helping to deliver another winning week.”
However, John Lewis said the hot weather in the south of the UK impacted some of its stores on Saturday.
Over the week its home stores were its best performers with sales at its Poole shop jumping 16.5% year on year.
Online sales jumped 40.3% over the week with an 85% increase in click-and-collect in both John Lewis and Waitrose.
London 2012 merchandise remains “strong” as the Paralympic Games looms, according to the retailer and it experienced a 31% surge in sports equipment sales.
Electricals was the department store’s strongest category with revenue up 28.1% driven by tablet and TV sales. Fashion sales were up 11.8% with strong sales of its remaining summer stock.
John Lewis experienced “encouraging sales” in kidswear as parents geared up for children going back to school.
Home sales grew by 7.7% with outdoor goods such as garden furniture, barbecues and picnicware well up.
Waitrose sales jumped 10.2% year on year driven by online sales, which jumped 55% against last year.
London led the drive online with 20% of its web orders originated from the capital.
The hot weather was evident in Waitrose sales with sales of charcoal soaring 82%, suncream leaping 124% and Pimms jumping 83%.
The retailer also experienced a spike in demand for home-baking products, which it put down to the return of TV programme The Great British Bake Off. Vanilla extract rocketed 70% over the week and coloured icing was up 40%.
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