With staff sharing financially in the good times…..when there are good times, the news that the profits for the last 6 months to July are down by just under 15% to £82,4 million, will not bring a smile to the staff of the group, that includes Waitrose.

Challenging trading conditions and taking a hit of £25 million on a strategy reversal that would have seen JL opening more stores is the main reason. A rise in salary costs and planning for the future are also given as reasons for the lower profits by Chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield.

Staff bonuses in recent years have been an important part of their take home pay, equating in some cases to an extra 5 week’s pay but have been on a downward path due to less than satisfactory reults, that Sir Mayfield  is looking to halt.