The John Lewis Partnership, which owns the Waitrose brand, has reported its interim results for the 26 weeks ended 26th July, finding that the retailer’s sales increased to £4.1 billion.

The figure was a 6% increase, and was recorded as the first time sales surpassed £4 billion in the first half of the year. Waitrose also recorded another period of customer growth in the first half, with 9% more people now shopping at Waitrose than two years ago.

Waitrose said the performance was driven by investment in quality food as well as physical stores, reporting its highest customer satisfaction score this half. As well as this, the retailer became the first UK supermarket to meet the Better Chicken Commitment.

Adjusted operating profit was £110 million in the first half, down £3 million, with sales growth and margin progress, combined with productivity improvements offsetting incremental non-like-for-like taxation costs of £22 million from the new EPR packaging levy and incremental NICs.

Jason Tarry, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “Our clear focus on accelerating investment in our customers and our brands is working: more customers are shopping with us, driving sales, and helping Waitrose and John Lewis outperform their markets. We achieved our highest recorded levels of positive customer satisfaction, a testament to the great service of our Partners.

“The investments we are making, combined with our plans for peak trading, provide a strong foundation for the remainder of the year. While we are reporting a loss in the first half, we’re well positioned to deliver full year profit growth, which we’ll continue to invest in our customers and Partners.”