Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal are facing up to a tougher future with John Lewis
The employee-owned department store and supermarket operator yesterday reported group-wide pre-tax profits of 111.2 million in the half-year to 31 July, a rise of 27.8 per cent on a year earlier.
As well as a boost from an advertising campaign featuring the two high-profile chefs, takings were lifted by strong sales of flat-screen televisions, spurred on by the World Cup.
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Hide AdBut John Lewis said it was braced for tougher times after figures showed an easing in sales growth for the first six weeks of the second half.
After a resurgent opening half for the department stores, when like-for-like sales surged 12.3 per cent, the partnership said sales have since risen 8.8 per cent. Evidence of a north-south divide in trading has already emerged.
Grocery arm Waitrose shrugged off the food price deflation that has hit many rivals, with same-store sales growth of up to 4.5 per cent in the second quarter.
This has slipped slightly to 3.9 per cent in the second half so far.