Britain’s John Lewis returns to first half profit

September 16, 2021

LONDON (Reuters) – British retailer, the John Lewis Partnership, on Thursday reported a return to first half profit after a COVID-pandemic hit loss last year.

The employee-owned group, which runs John Lewis department stores and upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose, said it made a first half profit before exceptional items of 69 million pounds ($95 million), versus a loss of 55 million pounds in the same period last year, helped by 66 million pounds of cost savings and government business rates relief of 58 million pounds.

($1 = 0.7239 pounds)

(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young)