UK online retailer Ocado has reported a double-digit rise in average orders-per-week in final months of 2012, and plans to increase distribution capacity in 2013
Ocado said today (15 January) that gross sales for the 17 weeks to 2 December rose by 12.4% on the same period of the previous year, to GBP237.1m (US$317m).
The rise was driven by an 11% increase in average orders per week, backed by a 1% lift in average order value, to GBP110.7m.
Gross sales for the six trading weeks to 6 January 2013 rose by 14.2% to GBP91.6m, the firm added. It also said that, for its full-year ended at 25 November, gross sales rose by 11.4% to GBP716.2m.
Ocado's CEO, Tim Steiner, welcomed the figures: "As has been seen elsewhere in our sector, Christmas has amplified the fact that shopping online for groceries is of increasing importance for consumers," he said.
Steiner believes the group is now well set-up to grow further. He added: "In 2013, we will substantially increase our capacity with the opening of our second fulfilment centre, and so we hope to make it possible for many more customers to escape crowded aisles, checkouts and car parks."
