The retail group, which owns Waitrose and the eponymous department store chain, said its losses widened to £99m during the 26-week period to July 30, 2022, compared to a £29m loss the same period a year ago.

The partnership blamed the performance on surging inflationary costs not being passed fully on to consumers, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, unwinding Covid shopping patterns and investments in staff, customers and suppliers.