Online grocery store Ocado saw a sharp rise in sales over the festive season, with purchases of Ocado own-label products and non-food items increasing 70 per cent in the six trading weeks to January 6th.

Gross sales for the six trading weeks to the same date were up 14.2% to £91.6m and customer orders over the same period were up 11.4% from 2011 with strong basket growth.

Average orders per week for the four-week period to the end of the financial year were 140,000.

Tim Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado, pointed to the growing popularity of online food shopping underpinning the strong results: "As has been seen elsewhere in our sector, Christmas has amplified the fact that shopping online for groceries is of increasing importance for consumers.

"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."

MF

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