Waitrose lifted by hot weather as John Lewis sales slip

Sales rose 4% to £134.9m in the week to May 27. Over the first 17 weeks of the grocer’s financial year, sales rose 1.8%.

Waitrose finance director Loraine Woodhouse said: “The warm weather heading into the bank holiday weekend prompted sunshine-led trends across our shops and online.

“Our top performing ranges were fruit, which saw an increase of 9%, and beers, wines and spirits, which saw a 16% rise in sales for the week.

“Bestsellers within these ranges were sunny favourites including strawberries, up 34%, Aperol, up 70%, and rosé wine, which saw a 54% increase.”

Woodhouse added: “English wine week started on Saturday, May 27, and more people than ever have been choosing a homegrown bottle to celebrate.

“Sales of our range of English wines were up by 93% last week compared to last year.”

John Lewis sales down

Sister department store chain John Lewis fared less well.

Sales were down 5.6% to £76.24m in the same week. In the first 17 weeks, they rose slightly by 0.7%.

John Lewis merchandising operations boss Jon Williams said: “Fashion sales were down 5%, due to annualising of strong price match promotions in the same week last year.

“Warm weather products in fashion saw a 15% uplift with a record week of sales for sandals up 26%.

“While home sales were down 4.8%, the warmer weather resulted in record barbecue sales and a record week for outdoor living with sales up 54%.”

Overall, sales at the Partnership inched up 0.3% to £211.14m in the week and rose 1.4% in the first 17 weeks.