John Lewis weekly sales rise 5.3% and Waitrose celebrates 11.1% first-quarter advance

The retailer said warmer weather than the previous week and its Extravaganza promotion drove footfall.

Online sales rose 18.9% year on year. John Lewis head of buying for women’s accessories and beauty Amanda Scott: “Mobile transactions continue to grow apace, showing how important this is becoming to our customers.

“Fashion enjoyed sales growth of 19.6%, helped by the uplift from Extravaganza in the second half of the week. The long-awaited sunshine encouraged customers to buy into warmer weather products particularly sunglasses, sandals, swimwear and linen – a definite sign that customers are more than ready to embrace summer when it arrives.”

Sales in its homewares department fell 2.5% against strong comparatives last year, however, furniture sales rose 4.6%.

Sales also edged down in its electricals and home technology department, down 0.3% against the digital switchover and iPad3 launch last year. However, sales were up 60% on two years ago.

Scott added: “As we conclude a strong first quarter our focus ahead is on trading new season’s merchandise, continuing to provide product innovation to surprise and delight our customers and a best-in-class shopping experience through all our channels.”

Waitrose reported an 11.1% increase in total sales in the first quarter to April 27 while online sales rose 50.1%.

Waitrose finance director Tom Athron said the retailer’s Brand Price Match promotion had won new customers for the upmarket grocer.

He said: “Customer transactions were up by 8.4% and, for the first time in the history of our business, we have averaged more than five million customers each week.

“What is so significant about our figures is that the vast majority of our growth has been achieved by an increase in volume sales from our established branches, with just one shop opening so far this financial year.”

Total sales rose 8.4% last week to £116.1m, with sales of salads, seafood and cider up as the weather improved.