John Lewis comments on department closure rumour

John Lewis has issued a statement to clarify recent speculation in the national press that it plans to ditch its haberdashery departments in favour of new services such as holidays, bikini waxes and prosecco bars.

The department store group said: ‘We would like to make clear that we have no, nor have we ever had, plans to close or downgrade our haberdashery departments. 

‘In the last five weeks, we’ve opened new shops in Chelmsford and Leeds with already popular haberdashery departments, both of which include a meeting area for local crafting groups.

‘We would like to reassure our customers that haberdashery is woven into the fabric of our business and remains at the heart of John Lewis.’