Bonus pay joy for John Lewis staff

John Lewis Partnership's (JLP) staff celebrated an increased bonus yesterday, but the group warned that the second half of 2010 would bring more "challenging trading conditions".

Employees at the group behind the eponymous department store and Waitrose grocery chain received a bonus of 15 per cent of their salary from a total pot of £151.3m, which was up from the 13 per cent bonus last year.

JLP delivered profits, before exceptional items, up by 9.7 per cent to £306.6m. Total sales at John Lewis were up by 2.8 per cent to £78.1m, while they surged by 9 per cent at Waitrose boosted by its Essentials range.