LONDON, 2014-4-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — The John Lewis Partnership today launches a fresh approach to annual reporting, which as an employee owned business puts Partner (employee) interests at the forefront of its content.
For the first time, the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) has been published alongside the Sustainability Review, to help better communicate to Partners, bondholders and stakeholders the wider context of how the organisation operates and to inspire ownership and democracy in the business.
Both reports follow the theme, ‘In the hands of our Partners’, and include real life examples of how Partners across the business are involved in the democratic structure, as well as insights into the online growth of the business and bestselling products. The reports boast a more contemporary, visual design, with brighter colours and the use of infographics makes the content easier to digest and navigate through.
In addition to having a new look and feel, this year’s Sustainability Report includes new sections dedicated to the Partnership’s long‐term responsibilities and commitments towards the environment. This includes everything from the work being done to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings and supply chain, to the successful increase in Partner volunteer hours and efforts to put more sustainable products on the market.
Helen Weir, Finance Director said: ‘In this year’s Annual Report and Accounts, we’ve sought to show how we’ve performed and how the Partnership works. In 2013/14, the Partnership traded well, delivering good growth in sales and profit before exceptionals. This year’s Annual Report and Accounts is more vibrant, engaging and informative, with new content and a contemporary design. There’s also a new section which focuses on the work of the Partnership Council during the year. Most importantly, it is packed with real examples of how Partners from different areas and levels are involved in our democratic structure.’
Benet Northcote, Head of CSR, said: ‘The Partnership has committed to integrate our reporting to provide a more holistic view of our business. This will demonstrate the relationship between our strategy, governance and financial performance and the social, environmental and economic context in which we operate. Publishing the Sustainability Review alongside the Annual Report and Accounts, with more shared content than ever before, is the first stage in that journey.’
View an interactive PDF version of the ARA and Sustainability Review.
Notes to editors
The John Lewis Partnership – The John Lewis Partnership operates 41 John Lewis shops across the UK (31 department stores and 10 John Lewis at home), johnlewis.com, 315 Waitrose shops, waitrose.com and business to business contracts in the UK and abroad. The business has annual gross sales of over £10bn. It is the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership where all 91,000 staff are Partners in the business.
John Lewis – John Lewis, ‘Multichannel Retailer of the Year 2014’¹, ‘The Nation’s Best Retailer’² and ‘Best Retailer 2013’³, typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores across fashion, home and technology. Johnlewis.com stocks over 250,000 products, and is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK. (www.johnlewis.com). John Lewis Insurance offers a range of comprehensive insurance products – home, car, wedding and event, travel and pet insurance and life cover – delivering the values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand.
¹ Oracle Retail Week Awards 2014
² Verdict Consumer Satisfaction Awards 2013
³ Which? Awards 2013
You can follow John Lewis on the following social media channels:
www.johnlewis.com/twitter
www.johnlewis.com/facebook
www.johnlewis.com/youtube.
Waitrose – Waitrose, Britain’s favourite supermarket*, has 315 shops in the UK and Channel Islands and is consistently achieving sales growth significantly ahead of the market**. Its strong performance has been driven by the success of the essential Waitrose range, Brand Price Match, the success of the myWaitrose card and free delivery for online shopping, as well as a long term commitment to sourcing the UK’s finest local and regional foods.
Waitrose combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced combined with high standards of customer service. (www.waitrose.com)
* Favourite Food & Grocery Retailer at Verdict’s annual Consumer Satisfaction Awards; Favourite Supermarket at Good Housekeeping Awards
** Kantar Worldpanel
Enquiries
For further information please contact:
John Lewis Partnership
Neil Spring
Senior Communications Manager
Telephone: 020 7592 6296
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Simon Rigby / Jos Bieneman
Telephone: 020 7638 9571