Online grocer Ocado today dismissed the growing threat from partner Waitrose as it posted an uptick in its sales growth over Christmas.
The internet specialist also launched a thinly veiled dig at Asda, which failed to deliver some Christmas orders due to a 'systems error', by boasting that “all customers that ordered a turkey received one”.
Ocado, which delivers Waitrose and own-label groceries, grew its sales by 14.2% to £91.6 million in the six weeks to January 6, against 12.4% growth in its fourth quarter. However, this was less than the recent rises of 18% and 15% posted by Tesco and Sainsbury’s respectively, and Waitrose’s 37% growth over the festive period.
Ocado finance director Duncan Tatton-Brown said: “Waitrose is growing and growing strongly but it is still a relatively modest [online] business in terms of its size. It is not something that worries us.”
Shares in Ocado rose by 2.6p, or 3%, to 86.8p.
