John Lewis weekly sales boosted by electricals and home technology

The department store business reported a 6.1% spike in sales to £75.5m for the week ending May 21.

Its electricals and home technology division registered a 9.2% growth in revenues during the period, buoyed by mobile phone sales and its three-year guarantee on Apple products.

Sales of connected home products rose 14%, while tablets and computers advanced 13.2%.

John Lewis’s home department also grew revenues, climbing 5%.

“Strong” sales in beds drove furniture sales up 8.7%, while improving weather boosted revenues in the retailer’s outdoor living category, which registered an 11.9% uplift.

Fashion sales also improved during the week, growing 4.7% as shoppers took advantage of John Lewis’s price-matching promotion against rivals.

Fashion accessories also performed well, ending the week on 13.8%. Beauty counter sales rose 11.4%, while sports accessories climbed 11.5%.

Sister retailer Waitrose recorded a 1.8% incline in sales to £127.45m, in the week that its Waitrose 1 premium range launched in TV adverts and in shops.

The upmarket grocer said the new lines “performed strongly”, with meat products and coffee among the standout products.

Waitrose said sales figures were distorted by the comparable week of 2015 including a bank holiday weekend, but it still managed to grow sales in various categories.

Fresh produce advanced 5%, while flower sales blossomed 13% last week.

The grocer’s hospitality proposition also continued its momentum, generating a 4% uplift in sales.