UK retailer Waitrose & Partners has reported sales of £7.5 billion (€8.9 billion) in its financial year 2021/22, which is up 1% on a like-for-like basis, and down 1% on a reported basis.
The retailer's performance was outlined in the full-year results of its parent company, John Lewis Partnership.
On a two-year basis, Waitrose saw sales up 11% on a like-for-like basis, and up 9% reported.
Online Sales Continue To Grow
The retailer said that its online sales continue to outperform, currently standing at 17% of total sales, up from 14% a year ago and 5% in 2019/20.
The group has increased capacity for online orders with the opening of a new distribution centre in Greenford, it said, offering capacity for 280,000 orders per week, up 20% on the previous year.
In addition, its partnership with Deliveroo is now available in more than 150 Waitrose stores, while it is also trialling the 'Deliveroo Hop' ultra-fast delivery platform.
Store Refurbishments
As regards its store estate, during the financial year, the retailer invested £90 million (€107.2 million) in 18 store refurbishments, while it has earmarked £55 million (€65.6 million) over the coming year to complete a further 23 store refurbishments, as well as planning to invest £72 million (€85.8 million) in digital services and distribution.
Some 13 new Waitrose stores opened at Shell locations during the year, bringing its total number of forecourt locations to 69.
It also plans to work with "Waitrose suppliers to keep prices as low as possible and offering savings on products that customers buy the most through the revamped MyWaitrose loyalty scheme", commented Sharon White, John Lewis Partnership chairman.
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest Retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
