John Lewis Partnership is set to unveil another loss in its upcoming half-year results, the first dip into the red while under the leadership of new chief executive officer Nish Kankiwala.
Although the losses are anticipated to be substantial, they are expected to improve on the £99 million deficit recorded during the same period a year ago, the Mail on Sunday revealed.
Incurring losses during the first half of the year is not uncommon for the privately-owned group, particularly since this period excludes the crucial Christmas trading season, however, Kankiwala is expected to remain cautious regarding the future trading outlook, signalling potential challenges ahead.
Encompassing the renowned department store and Waitrose supermarket, which has struggled to retain market share recently, John Lewis Partnership reported a staggering loss of £234 million in its previous financial year.
Leading to a vote of confidence for Chair Dame Sharon White in May, which she narrowly survived, the group has attempted to introduce several cost-cutting methods, with staff members at Waitrose being told to expect potential job cuts as they rejig shift patterns.
Hoping to enhance productivity and reduce costs, Retail Director Tina Mitchell stressed the need for "sacrifices and compromises" among partners and acknowledged that streamlining operations might result in some departing from the company.