John Lewis reported weekly sales up 20.6% in the week to June 5, buoyed by trade over the bank holiday although the hot weather by the end of the week took the edge off sales.

The department store retailer’s electricals business performed particularly well, up 27%, as World Cup fever hit consumers and boosted sales of flat-screen TVs. Strong sales of products such as the Dyson fan suggests shoppers are expecting warm weather.

Fashion and home was not too far behind electricals with sales uplifts of 19% and 18% respectively. Sales of sunglasses, outdoor living furniture and paddling pools benefited from the hot weather.

Johnlewis.com was up 50% on last year, with TVs and fashion performing well.

Grocer Waitrose reported sales were up 6.1%, with the warm weather increasing sales of picnic and barbecue fare.

Salads were a favourite buy, with prepared salads up by nearly 30%, and fruit sales were up by nearly a third, driven by sales of lemons, up by 24%, thanks to Heston Blumenthal’s lemon tart recipe.

The star performer of the week was its large pineapple, with sales up 360%.

Overall, the John Lewis Partnership reported sales up 10.9% for the week.

Topics