John Lewis Partnership is embarking on a highly aggressive expansion strategy which will see the employee-owned business create 35,000 new jobs and double its turnover to £12bn. The plan is a major threat to rival department stores Debenhams and House of Fraser, which have enjoyed mixed fortunes recently. It will also pose serious questions to newly resurgent Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's, which both chase the same upmarket food consumer.

A 10-year business plan, signed off by the partnership board in recent days, will see the retail concern boost its total workforce to 100,000 by 2017. The plan envisages John Lewis significantly increasing its 26 department stores and 184 Waitrose supermarkets.