John Lewis sales driven by fashion and Boden launch

Total sales at John Lewis department store rose 3.5% to £85.63m in the seven days to September 9. Its fashion department was the star performer – up 9.8%.

Womenswear sales jumped 16.4% year-on-year, while menswear sales grew 15.4%, which the retailer attributed to the launch of new products and brands, including Boden.

The Boden range went on sale online and in two John Lewis stores during the period.

John Lewis launched its Christmas shop online last week and introduced a range of Anthropologie home products.

However, sales in its home division slipped 1.9% year-on-year.

Waitrose

Sales at Waitrose grew 6.4% to £133.88m last week.

The upmarket grocer said the sales jump was driven by its half-price Sale event and a promotion on bottles of wine – up 31%.

As children went back to school, parents stocked up on healthier lunch options, the grocer said. Sales of lunchbox staple easy peel citrus fruit rose 14%.

Sandwich sales also jumped 32% on last year.

Across the partnership, which is due to report interim results later this week, sales for the week increased 5.2% to £219.15m.