Waitrose news and archive

John Lewis prioritises employee pay and business growth over staff bonus

John Lewis recorded profit growth of 73 percent to 97 million pounds (125.6 billion dollars) for the year ending on January 25, 2025. Despite this profit surge, the company has opted not to reinstate its staff bonus for the third consecutive year. Instead, the partnership plans to invest these gains into strategic business transformation and...

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John Lewis narrows losses, on track to deliver higher full year profit

John Lewis Partnership reported sales of 5.9 billion pounds in the first half, up 2 percent year-on-year, while revenue was up 2 percent to 5.2 billion pounds. The company said that the Partnership is on track to deliver significantly higher full year profit above the 42 million pounds reported in 2023/24. Commenting on the first half trading,...

Retail|Beauty

Prai Beauty continues UK expansion with Waitrose

Skincare brand Prai Beauty, known as the ‘Neckxperts’ for its pro-aging solutions targeting the skin around the throat and décolletage, is launching into Waitrose this month as part of its ongoing UK retail expansion plans. The move will mark Prai Beauty’s first supermarket stockist and follows its success in the UK market with M&S, Boots, QVC...

Fashion

John Lewis Partnership unveils new lifestyle brand

The John Lewis Partnership, which operates the department store chain John Lewis and supermarket Waitrose, has launched a new design-led lifestyle brand curated by designers and creators who have grown up in the care system. The ‘Made With Care’ brand is a design-focus collaboration that will combine “great design and desirable products,” while...

Fashion

John Lewis and Waitrose support ‘Say Pants to the Tax’ campaign

Department store chain John Lewis and supermarket Waitrose have joined retailers M&S, Primark, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Mountain Warehouse to support the ‘Say Pants to the Tax’ campaign, calling on the Government to reclassify period pants in line with other period products. In a statement, John Lewis and Waitrose said that they would reduce the...

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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...

People

John Lewis hires chief transformation and technology officer

The John Lewis Partnership have appointed Zak Mian as its first chief transformation and technology officer. The appointment marks the retail group’s first executive-level appointment focused solely on transformation and technology as it looks to strengthen its transformation capability and deliver its five-year ‘Partnership Plan’. Mian joins...

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John Lewis Partnership swings to H1 loss as shoppers reign in spending

The John Lewis Partnership swung to a loss in the first half of the year amid the cost of living crisis. In the six months to July 30, the employee-owned company made a loss before tax and exceptional items of 92 million pounds compared to a profit of 69 million pounds a year earlier. Chair Sharon White said the loss was largely due to two main...

BusinessMember

John Lewis announces first locations for rental homes

The John Lewis Partnership has revealed the first three locations where it proposes to build new rental homes as part of its long-term plan for 40 percent of profits to come from outside of retail by 2030. The three proposed sites include buildings over Waitrose shops in Bromley and West Ealing in Greater London, as well as replacing a vacant...

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John Lewis pre-tax profit increases, restores staff bonus

John Lewis Partnership has restored its staff bonus after narrowing its full-year profit. In the 12 months to January 29, the partnership’s underlying pre-tax profit reached 181 million pounds, 38 percent higher than 2020/21 and 159 percent higher than two years ago. Including exceptional items worth 161 million pounds and bonus of 46 million...

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Profits surge at John Lewis Partnership, according to leaked memo

John Lewis Partnership has reportedly seen a surge in profits thanks to its ongoing cost-cutting measures as well as bumper Christmas sales at Waitrose. The partnership was “well ahead” of its 100 million pounds annual profit target by the end of December, with still a month of its financial year left, according to a leaked memo seen by The Mail...

Retail|Beauty

Eco-friendly deodorant brand Wild announces new UK partnerships

Sustainable and natural deodorant brand Wild has secured new partnerships with some of the UK’s leading supermarkets, retailers and department stores as part of its ongoing expansion plans to “reach as many people as possible”. Wild has signed a deal with supermarket giant, Sainsbury’s to launch its products online and in 285 of its stores. The...