JLP good form continues through half-term break
26 February 2010 10:03
The John Lewis Partnership has seen strong trading in the third week of its new trading year, with sales up 15% on last year.
With the majority of schools on half-term break, matching the timing of last year's holiday, the John Lewis department store chain enjoyed good footfall throughout the week and this converted to strong sales, with each day seeing double-digit growth on the corresponding day from 2009.
Johnlewis.com continued to grow trade rapidly, up by a third on last year's sales. Strong growth continued in fashion online, up 123% on last year, with womenswear, accessories and childrenswear the main drivers.
Across the business, fashion grew 21%, followed closely by home sales at 19%. Electricals and home technology saw more mixed results but, overall, sales were comfortably ahead of the two-year figure and almost 4% up on last year.
At the group's Waitrose chain, sales rose 13.7%, boosted by strong sales of Fairtrade products and bacon butties.
In a statement, Mark Williamson, supply chain director at Waitrose, said: "It seems that our shoppers have been trying to emulate the success of EuroMillions lottery winner, Nigel Page. The first thing he did to celebrate winning £56 million was to take his family for a bacon butty at the café in Waitrose Cirencester.
"Sales of bacon butties across our coffee shops were up by 19% last week, and at Cirencester they rocketed by 55%. Lottery ticket sales at the branch also went up by 38% following his big win".
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