British retail group John Lewis Partnership has said its recovery plan is a success and is expected to deliver "significantly higher" profits for the year.
The owner of the namesake department store chain and Waitrose supermarkets reported losses narrowed by 91% from £57m to £5m in 2024.
Sales for John Lewis department stores declined by 3% due to a "challenging market" but Waitrose saw an uplift in sales by 5%.
Beauty, however, was singled out as a strong performer for John Lewis as its cosmetics division "significantly outperformed" last year.
Sales climbed by 6.8% in H1 2024 compared with 2023, with make-up and skin care noted for a particularly strong performance.
Lancôme, Clinique, Liz Earle, Charlotte Tilbury and Chanel were reported as best-selling brands.
Beauty retail will continue to be an integral part of John Lewis's transformation strategy, said the 160-year-old company.
The group's Oxford Street flagship store in London is being renovated and will boast "one of the largest beauty halls in the country" when unveiled next month.
Fashion sales were hit by a reduction in disposable income and the unseasonal British weather, the results said.
John Lewis' recovery plan includes improved customer service and the return of its “never knowingly undersold” price promise.
“We continue to invest heavily in quality, service and value, and customers are responding well - with more people shopping with us and customer satisfaction increasing," said Nish Kankiwala, CEO of the John Lewis Partnership.
"While we have much more to do, we’re well set up for a positive peak trading period and on target to significantly improve our performance for the full year.”
What are the best-selling beauty products at John Lewis in 2024?
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray - 21,200 units
- Chanel La Mousse - 18,100 units
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Mascara - 14,600 units
- Lancôme Hypnôse Noir mascara - 10,600 units
- Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey - 8,800 units
- Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - 8,200 units