John Lewis: Sunny weather has mixed results

THE heat wave had a mixed effect on the John Lewis Partnership last week, with shoppers shunning its department stores in favour of picnic treats from its Waitrose supermarket chain.

The up-market grocer posted a 14.5 per cent year-on-year surge in sales for the week to 6 July, but the department stores could only manage a 0.2 per cent rise.

Glasgow’s branch chalked up a respectable 0.6 per cent increase, but Aberdeen’s sales dropped by 6.2 per cent, while Edinburgh was down 6.4 per cent.

Cantor analyst Freddie George said: “Most stores had sales declines particularly notable with the southern based ‘out of town’ stores including High Wycombe, Bluewater and Brent Cross.”

Nick Bubb, an independent retail analyst, added: “With unhelpfully-hot weather persisting and the high street a ghost-town on Sunday during the Wimbledon final, the run-rate will probably take another hit this week.”

The two contrasting pictures evened out to give an overall 8.9 per cent increase.