Jubilee in store: John Lewis enjoys celebrations

JOHN Lewis is enjoying a sales boost amid the run-up to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, helping it to another double-digit rise in weekly trade.

The chain said sales increased 16.6 per cent year-on-year to £62.2 million in the week to last Saturday, including a 50 per cent-plus hike at online operation Johnlewis.com.

There were modest gains of 2.6 per cent and 0.4 per cent for Glasgow and Edinburgh, respectively, while its Aberdeen branch suffered a 3.5 per cent dip in takings.

Dino Rocos, operations director for John Lewis, said: “With three weeks to go, the Jubilee celebrations are driving fantastic gift sales.”

Earlier this week, retail director Andrew Murphy said sales of Jubilee merchandise were trumping those for last year’s royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton by two to one.

At grocery arm Waitrose, weekly sales were up 3.7 per cent to £105.3m.