Waitrose & Partners’ weekly sales were down 0.4% during the week to August 31 compared with the same week the previous year.

Ambient and non-ambient food both registered a 0.2% uptick in sales during the period, bolstered by the sale of alcohol and BBQ food.

The grocer’s home and general merchandise total sales decreased 0.7%. 

John Lewis & Partners sales fell 7.2% during the week compared with the same period the previous year.