• Waitrose sales for the week to August 20 up 4.7% year-on-year to £125.13m
  • John Lewis department stores sales up 1.3%, totalling £72.88m
  • Overall partnership sales grew 3.4% to £198m

 

Waitrose said last week’s warm weather and the Rio Olympics inspired people to head outdoors, resulting in a 4.7% sales uplift.

Waitrose sales for the week to August 20 came in at £125.1m, up 4.7% year-on-year.

As a result of the week’s sunny weather, the grocer said sales of its outdoor living range and sun creams rose 24% and 37% respectively.

Food-to-go sales also grew 10.5%, with hot takeaway options soaring 20% and single-serve drinks rising 21%.

Fresh produce was up 9.6%, as customers were particularly drawn to British seasonal fruit such as cherries, which were up 36%.

Promotions for wines and spirits also helped drive alcohol sales up 11.5%.

John Lewis

However, while warm weather proved fruitful for Waitrose at the start of the week, department store retailer John Lewis benefited from cooler weather at the end of the week, which prompted customers to return to shops.

The department store’s total sales edged up 1.3% compared with the same week last year, totalling £72.9m for the week.

The retailer said audio and connected home products remain popular, posting a 15.7% year-on-year uplift. Beauty also had a strong week, with sales up 5.1%.

Fashion sales were up 1.2% and home sales rose a marginal 0.7%.

However, John Lewis reported a “massive spike in popularity” of its outdoor living products, up 64.4%, presumably in anticipation of the sunny bank holiday weekend forecast for this week. Bed sales also rocketed 30.8% compared with the same week last year.

Overall John Lewis Partnership sales for the week to August 20 grew 3.4% to £198m.

 

 

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