John Lewis news and archive

John Lewis to offer paid leave to all foster carers

The John Lewis Partnership, which includes department store John Lewis and supermarket chain Waitrose, will offer additional paid leave to all new and existing foster carers within its businesses. The move makes the retail group the largest organisation to receive ‘Fostering Friendly’ accreditation via the Fostering Network. The accolade...

Business

John Lewis appoints Saatchi & Saatchi as new marketing partner

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has announced the appointment of Saatchi & Saatchi as the group’s new creative marketing partner for both John Lewis and Waitrose. From the summer, the company will succeed Adam&EveDDB as JLP’s lead creative agency and will oversee the brand and advertising activity across the firm’s portfolio, as well as its...

Business

John Lewis chair scrapes by vote of confidence

Sharon White, the chairman of John Lewis Partnership, has survived a vote of confidence by the retailer’s Partnership council. While she initially lost the first non-binding vote addressing the council’s confidence in her position over the last year, she won a majority of the support in the second vote in her approach to the company’s future. In...

Business

Former Hobbs CEO joins John Lewis board

John Lewis has announced the appointment of Nicky Dulieu as a non-executive director of the Partnership Board and chair of the audit and risk committee, effective immediately. Dulieu succeeded Andy Martin, who stepped down after five years at the company. Prior to joining, Dulieu acquired a string of experience in the retail industry, namely as...

Business

John Lewis deepens customer relations strategy, appoints first head of loyalty

John Lewis is set to deepen its investment into customer loyalty through new partnerships and the appointment of its first head of loyalty, Emily Wells. The retail group has struck up five-year agreements with customer insights and media firm Dunnhumby and marketing technology company Eagle Eye Solutions Group, both of which it said would...

Fashion Featured

John Lewis launches first ‘tweens’ fashion collection

Department store retailer John Lewis is expanding its childrenswear offering with its first ‘tweens’ collection as it looks to “significantly grow its share” of the children’s fashion business in the UK. In a statement, John Lewis said that the new children’s collection will feature more than 2,100 more lines, including its own-label ‘tween’...

BusinessFeatured

John Lewis chair Sharon White responds to stake sale speculation

The chair of John Lewis has sent a message to customers following news the company is considering diluting its partnership structure amid continued losses. In a statement on LinkedIn, Sharon White said it is her responsibility to ensure “the partnership model not only survives, but thrives for another 75 years”. It follows a report by The Sunday...

BusinessFeatured

Will John Lewis end its employee-owned retail business for investment?

John Lewis could end its employee-owned stature as the company explores selling a stake to investors to secure much-needed capital. Changing the retailer’s structure and constitution would allow the company to raise between 1 billion pounds and 2 billion pounds, reported the Sunday Times. The Times iterated the retailer would not by fully...

BusinessFeatured

John Lewis Partnership posts loss, withdraws staff bonus

John Lewis Partnership, which owns its namesake department store chain as well as supermarket chain Waitrose, has cut its staff bonus scheme after posting a loss in its most recent full-year results ended January 28, 2023. The company posted a loss before exceptional items and tax of 78 million pounds, down from a profit of 181 million pounds a...

BusinessFeatured

John Lewis Partnership taps new CEO amid ongoing transformation

John Lewis Partnership, which comprises department store chain John Lewis and supermarket chain Waitrose, has announced Nish Kankiwala as its new chief executive officer, effective March 27. Kankiwala joined the partnership’s board in 2021 and has over 40 years of experience at retail and consumer brands including PepsiCo, Unilever, and Burger...

Retail |In Pictures Featured

John Lewis unveils new “one stop destination" concept store

Department store John Lewis has unveiled a newly redesigned concept store layout in Horsham, which moves away from its existing “at home” format to a “one stop destination” for fashion, beauty, tech and home design. The new design and layout aim to “better reflect the local community it serves,” explains John Lewis in the press release, and...

Business

John Lewis executive director to step down

Department store retailer John Lewis has announced that its executive director Pippa Wicks will be leaving the company. Wicks initially joined the British brand in 2020 from the supermarket chain Co-op, where she held the position chief operating officer before becoming deputy chief executive. Her appointment at John Lewis came as part of a...