The John Lewis Partnership: A study in co‐ownership

John Lewis Partnership Limited is primarily engaged in the business of retail distribution. At present it trades in 17 department stores and 60 Waitrose food supermarkets. All this has developed from a small shop in Oxford Street, London, specialising in selling textiles, still an important part of the Partner ship's trade and of which it is a manufacturer on a small scale. It also manufactures in a smaller way for some other of its requirements. Turnover in 1976 was £370m. and there are approximately 23 000 Partners working in the business.