A former senior member of the John Lewis leadership team has joined Sainsbury’s as it seeks to build its non-food operations.
Former John Lewis fashion buying director Christine Kasoulis, who left the department store group last year after more than three decades, has joined Sainsbury’s to lead its fashion, furniture and home business.
Her appointment reunites her with former boss Paula Nickolds who also moved to the grocer after leaving John Lewis.
Kasoulis had been at John Lewis for 32 years, originally starting as head of buying, home, and became brand director in 2009, and left last year after the retailer restructured. Nickolds said Kasoulis was “uniquely well qualified” for the Sainsbury’s role.
Sainsbury’s reported full-year performance yesterday, when it said that its Tu clothing range “delivered sales growth of 12.7% over one year and 3.1 % over two years” and now generates annual revenue of more than £1bn.
The grocer said: “We are selling more clothing at full price – with full-priced sales participation now at 89% compared with 65% two years ago – and running fewer promotions, which improves profitability and supports increased investment in our core food business.”
Sainsbury’s, which owns Argos and Habitat, said “household and home and furniture sales grew while sales of toys, consumer electronics and technology categories declined. We have grown our furniture market share over the past two years, driven by Habitat, Sainsbury’s and Argos’s main home and furniture brand.”
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