John Lewis gets Mothers’ Day lift

The early arrival of Mothers’ Day this year has given sales at department store chain John Lewis a seasonal boost.

Sales were up at John Lewis, but results were more muted in Scotland. Picture: Joey Kelly

The employee-owned retailer said takings jumped 12.9 per cent to £74.7 million, but there was a more muted performance among its three Scottish stores.

Sales in Edinburgh were flat compared with a year ago, while Aberdeen edged up 1.2 per cent and Glasgow rose 4.6 per cent.

“The growth in online trade continued apace, with a phenomenal week for customers click and collecting their last-minute Mother’s Day treats,” the firm said.

Demand for pampering presents such as bath and body gifts and premium toiletries – along with record sales of cards and flowers – lifted takings at the group’s Waitrose supermarket arm by 7 per cent.

Figures this week were boosted by the early fall of Mother’s Day, which resulted in divisional sales, excluding petrol, increasing by 7 per cent compared with last year.

The strong sales performances came the week after the group cut its bonuses for more than 90,000 John Lewis and Waitrose staff for the second year in a row. The payout, worth 11 per cent of salary, was down from 15 per cent a year ago.

John Lewis Partnership reported pre-tax profits before exceptional items of £342.7m for the 53 weeks to the end of January.