Capital John Lewis store worst for sales

EDINBURGH was the worst-performing shop in John Lewis's chain of 28 department stores last week, suffering an 8.1 per cent year-on-year fall in sales compared with a UK-wide 11.7 per cent rise.

The partnership's other Scottish stores shared in the sales boost, with Aberdeen up 2.6 per cent in the week to 24 September and Glasgow rising by 1.3 per cent.

John Lewis managing director Andy Street said: "The (overall] 11.7 per cent increase kept up our momentum, and was, we suspect, well ahead of the market. This 'outperformance' is what we intend to deliver through to Christmas."

The employee-owned group said sales at Waitrose, its grocery chain, were 8 per cent higher after a boost from students stocking up on ready meals for the start of the university term. Waitrose has three Scottish branches.