The John Lewis Partnership, parent company of John Lewis department stores and the Waitrose grocery chain, saw total sales grow 6.5 per cent to £7.4 billion in the year to January 30.

Pre-tax profits, before a partnership bonus was paid, was £306.6m – excluding the £127.4m gain last year on the disposal of Ocado, this means this year’s performance was £27m or 9.7 per cent ahead of last year’s.

Figures for John Lewis department stores alone showed sales grew 2.8 per cent to £2.9bn with a like-for-like rise of 2.3 per cent.

Online sales at John Lewis Direct grew 18.2 per cent to £393.5m.

Operating profit, excluding property gains, grew 15 per cent to £165.9m.

“This was a year of profound change across the Partnership and the resilience and flexibility of our business model has underpinned a market-leading performance,” said chairman Charlie Mayfield.

“We have continued to invest, innovate and grow, emerging from the recession in a stronger competitive position.”

About John Lewis department stores, he said the store group’s “uncompromising” commitment to quality, service and value throughout the recession had paid dividends.

“This, together with strong growth in multichannel and online operations and our increasing strength and reputation in fashion were key contributors to a successful year.”

He pointed out that the results meant a partnership bonus of £151.3m, meaning that all 70,000 partners would receive a bonus of 15 per cent of their salary – the equivalent of nearly eight weeks pay.

“Partners have shown tremendous commitment during changing times. I am therefore delighted that our Partners will share fairly in the financial rewards of a successful year,” Mr Mayfield said.