John Lewis Partnership Half-Year Loss Widens to £124 Million

Department stores and Waitrose both under pressure

John Lewis Partnership said its pre-tax loss for the six months to 1 August 2026 rose to £124 million from £88 million a year earlier. The group runs 36 department stores and more than 300 Waitrose shops.

Chairman Jason Tarry said the figures reflected investment in a turnaround, a tougher trading climate, and higher costs of doing business. Department-store sales fell 2 percent as shoppers cut discretionary spending.

A wider high-street squeeze

UK retailers have cited labour and energy costs this week. The John Lewis result landed on the same morning Primark warned on like-for-like sales.

The partnership is owned by its staff. It did not announce store closures with the half-year numbers.