Performance strong despite variation between trading days
The John Lewis Partnership has revealed strong sales and mixed trading at Waitrose supermarkets and the eponymous department store chain for the week ending September 16.

Despite warm weather depressing sales at John Lewis on Sunday and Monday, the employee-owned retailer said most branches bounced back, prompting the chain to post an 8.1 per cent increase in sales, up to£45.93 million.

Trading at Waitrose was steady over the week, leading to an above-average yearly increase. The business made£67.47 million over the week, an increase of 10.9 per cent against last year. Sales of new world wines and fruit and vegetables were particularly strong at the chain, according to the group.

At John Lewis, performances across the different categories were mixed. Menswear, leisure and beauty made the best headway on the clothing side, with the category up 4.2 per cent. Handbags sold well for womenswear, but childrenswear, toys and crafts were down 7.6 per cent. However, the group said that sales of car safety 'excelled' on the back of new rules on child seats.

John Lewis director of retail operations Gareth Thomas said: 'After last week's tremendous news on first-half profits, we have much to play for in the months ahead, when the potential scale of turnover and profit is so much greater.'

Last week, the partnership revealed that group sales increased by 11 per cent to£3 billion in the six months to July 29. Pre-tax profits jumped 25 per cent to£97 million against difficult trading conditions.