John Lewis bonuses slip as sales post decline of 1.4%

JOHN Lewis and Waitrose staff in Edinburgh have seen their bonuses cut to seven weeks’ salary after the retail chain posted a four per cent fall in profits.

The partnership, owned by its 81,000 employees, posted profits of £353.8 million in the year to January, a drop on the previous year.

In Scotland there was a decline in sales of 1.4 per cent, although John Lewis Edinburgh – which employs 735 “partners” – said there had been strong sales of iPads, Kindles, beauty products, and “heritage” brands such as Barbour.

Meanwhile, Waitrose stores saw significant sales rises in tomatoes and exotic fruit.

Morningside branch manager David Lincoln said: “We’ve seen a real mix of top-tier products and store- cupboard essentials performing well this year, which is a reflection on the shift to people cooking and baking from scratch and staying at home to entertain and celebrate special occasions.”