Scottish stores lag as John Lewis sales rise

Department store group John Lewis has delivered another strong set of weekly sales figures, but none of its three stores in Scotland recorded any growth.

The employee-owned retailer said fashion sales were lift by the start of its clearance event, helping overall takings rise 7.2 per cent to £81.6 million in the week to 22 June.

Strong demand from internet shoppers saw takings from the firm’s online operation grow 20.7 per cent, but discounting failed to provide a boost for the chain’s stores north of the Border.

While sales at its Edinburgh branch were unchanged compared with the same week last year, Glasgow dipped 0.1 per cent and its Aberdeen store suffered a 6.6 per cent decline.

Cantor retail analyst Freddie George said: “It was a reasonable week for the department stores in the first week of its sale against relatively easy comparatives with the previous year, which was impacted by the distraction of the European football championships and poor, wet weather.”