John Lewis sales surge as iPad launches

The launch of the new iPad boosted technology sales 53% but even without it the retailer enjoyed a 13% uplift in the category.

Online sales rose 58% while like-for-likes in store rose 9%. Fashion sales increase by 16%.

Total sales at John Lewis  for the week to March 17 were £60.1m while Waitrose recorded a 12% rise to £108.9m.

Performance at Waitrose helped by the earlier fall of Mother’s Day – as well as the return of ‘the Delia effect’ which fuelled a 3,500% uplift in roast chicken with lemon and thyme sales.

John Lewis Poole continued to perform well with a 43% sales increase, Croydon was up 24% and Swindon 17%. Sales at Milton Keynes fell 9.7% year-on-year while Nottingham recorded a 7.3% fall.

John Lewis home buying director Paula Nickolds said: “Trading focus should now turn to the opportunity of Easter as shops begin preparing for the customer events weekend.

“There are some compelling promotions and exciting activity planned and there’s no doubt we can be well placed to make the most of the additional footfall the bank holidays will bring.”

Waitrose reported yesterday that, a year on from the £20m revamp of its website, it had recorded a 29.2% increase in online sales.

Last online sales were 48.4% higher than the equivalent week in 2011, coinciding with the website launch.

E-commerce director Robin Phillips said: “We continue to focus on enhancing our multi-platform offer - including enabling our customers to shop with us using mobile devices for the first time later this year.”