John Lewis enjoys merry Christmas

DEPARTMENT store chain John Lewis has today emerged as one of the clear winners over the ­festive period, ringing up high single-digit rises in both total and like-for-like sales.

John Lewis enjoyed a good Christmas period, with sales lifted seven per cent. Picture: Getty

The retailer took the wraps off a robust trading performance in the five weeks to 28 December, when total sales lifted by 7.2 per cent to £734 million compared with the same period last year. Same-floorspace sales were up 6.9 per cent.

A standout performance came from John Lewis’s online operation, with internet sales up 22.6 per cent up on last year, while “click and collect” orders were nearly 62 per cent higher. Online sales accounted for nearly one-third of total takings.

The upbeat figures contrast sharply with rival department store group Debenhams, which issued a profit warning on Tuesday following lacklustre Christmas trading. Fashion retailer Next reports on its season tomorrow, with the City expecting a resilient performance.