Media watch

The Telegraph : 5 May 2012 - John Lewis Chairman Charlie Mayfield

Unlike other retailers that are feeling the pinch, the Partnership's customers appear to keep coming back for more. [Mayfield] is clear that there is much to do in the UK in terms of rolling out Waitrose into areas where there are none, and placing John Lewis in key cities and catchments where it would help to extend the brand. He picks out for special attention a Waitrose store recently opened in Warminster, and a John Lewis set to open in Exeter later this year. 'Andy Street describes Exeter as our most integrated multi-channel shop we've ever opened,' he says.

grazia.daily.co.uk : 2 May 2012 - the perfect fit

It was only this morning that we were jumping for joy at the news that Alice Temperley is launching a purse-friendly range with John Lewis and this afternoon, we've been browsing the Triumph Essence collection, which has just landed both online and in store at JL. Hurrah! If you're after luxe lingerie with a fashion-forward element, then you've come to the right place.So what are you waiting for? Head in store and find your ultimate fit with the John Lewis fitting service now.

Retail Week : 4 May 2012 - capital event

All supermarkets are in a battle for shoppers and their consumer spend. We've taken a look at this in detail and in the context of which supermarket is best positioned to capitalise on London 2012 and the summer's sporting excitement. In our study, Waitrose wins Gold by a whisker. Out of all the supermarkets, Waitrose customers are most likely to celebrate the London Olympics and therefore the store is best positioned to profit from the event.

Daily Telegraph : 26 April 2012 - organic giving

The Prince of Wales is giving £200,000 from profits of his Duchy Original biscuits to farmers to encourage organic methods. The Prince's Charitable Foundation is putting money into the programme to develop innovative techniques aimed at improving yields and nutritional performance in organic and low-input agriculture. One of the aims of the programme will be to help farmers make the best use of renewable resources and sustainable management techniques to build soil fertility and control pests and diseases.

The Guardian online : 25 April 2012 - can the shape of your glass enhance the taste of the wine?

I've come to John Lewis foodhall to test their range of glasses. Wine expert Will Parker admits he shared my scepticism but thinks he can change my mind. Their customers don't seem to need much convincing: the range has been flying off the shelves. Given prices starting at £30 for four glasses, it's something of a surprise in this time of austerity; they credit the sales to people treating themselves at home instead of eating out.

The Guardian : 27 April 2012 - patisserie power

Will Torrent, 25, is a pastry chef and patisserie development consultant for Waitrose, and he likes to do things differently whether it's turning chocolate to gravel or soaking strawberries in basil and olive oil. 'We know, as chefs, what works and what doesn't work,' he says. 'We don't put chilli in chocolate for the sake of it, but because just enough chilli will highlight the chocolate flavour – a trick the Aztecs knew well.' Torrent's main function is to develop new recipes for his employer, including for its Heston and Duchy Originals ranges.

Recently he has been working on a picnic hamper to provide patriotic nourishment during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and, as usual, he has been trying to reinvent tradition. Torrent's main culinary laboratory is a surprisingly compact, surprisingly quiet kitchen on an industrial estate in Bracknell and he shares it with half a dozen other chefs, all of whom devise different aspects of the firm's products.

The Telegraph : 19 April 2012 - Heston's concert picnic

As the samples came around it became clear why it had taken Heston and his partners, Royal Chef Mark Flanagan and Waitrose, eight months to create the picnic that the guests will receive as they arrive at the palace on 4 June. The Blumenthal spin on British picnic classics are subtle and ingenious. Every item comes from a British source and all are 'based on iconic dishes, with a contemporary twist,' according to Mr Flanagan. 'Everything has the Heston magic,' Mr Flanagan says. 'We'd have loved smoke and bubbles, but for this number of people we have fundamentally got to be practical.'

Retail Week : 20 April 2012 - retail admiration

Which retail company do you admire most and why?
John Lewis. The service is excellent, it cares about its staff and it is continuously looking for improvements.
Sam Husain, Chief Executive, Foyles

Drapers : 21 April 2012 - tailored service

Tailoring etailer A Suit That Fits is moving onto the high street with the launch of a made-to-measure tailoring service in John Lewis. The appointment-only service, which will open on April 26 in John Lewis's Oxford Street store, forms part of the retailer's £8m revamp of the central London flagship. John Lewis Head of Menswear Buying Matt McCormack said the service is being launched in response to customer demand. 'Bespoke suiting does not necessarily mean luxury price points and this is about putting it in reach of people who thought they couldn't afford it,' he said. A Suit That Fits co-founder Warren Bennett said: 'The credentials associated with being in John Lewis are a big boost for us in terms of our credibility.'

The Independent : 12 April 2012 - pockets of good

[Dame] Liz Fradd (who helped establish the Care Quality Commission) says: 'In any organisation you'll find pockets of good and pockets of less good, but fundamentally the thing that really matters are the people at the top. If they're not a compassionate board, if they don't empower, encourage, support and enable staff, how can they possibly do that for their patients? If you use the John Lewis example, their internal mantra is all about the staff coming first. If you treat the staff well, they'll treat the customers well, and I think that's what we've got to get right in healthcare.'

Sunday Telegraph : 15 April 2012 - bigger benefits

John Lewis issues statements to staff which show information about basic pay, overtime, shift premiums, as well as bigger benefits such as pensions and annual bonus. 'All these can add up and make quite a difference to the overall package,' says Jon White, manager of leisure benefits at John Lewis. The retailer is also making use of new technology by including QR codes. 'Most of our staff are not desk-based and don't have day-to-day access to a computer,' says White. 'It is a really good way of engaging with those who are tech-savvy, particularly the younger ones.'

Sunday Telegraph : 15 April 2012 - who shares wins

Recently, the government called for a John Lewis-style UK economy – one in which many more employees have an actual stake in their businesses. Their argument is that if John Lewis and Waitrose can increase market share, provide superior customer service and beat their competitors during a high street slump, what benefits might be available to other companies prepared to offer employees ownership in the business?