Ocado Q1 sales rise 3.4% to £584m

British online supermarket Ocado retail has reported that its Q1 2023 sales increased to £584m, marking a 3.4% rise over the same quarter last year, according to its trading statement for the 13 weeks to 26 February 2023.

It said that an increase in the number of new consumers using its services contributed to the rise in its retail sales.

Average orders per week rose 3.6% to 381,000, with active customers reaching 951,000 at the end of the quarter, up 13.8% year-on-year.

Its average basket value was flat, with a 7.5% fall in the average number of items bought to 45, offset by an 8.3% rise in average selling prices.

The online grocer said order frequency had returned to pre-Covid levels as average orders per week rose 3.6% for the quarter.

Hannah Gibson, Ocado Retail’s chief executive officer, said: “We continue to attract more and more customers to Ocado, by investing in great value for customers including our new Ocado Price Promise and providing unbeatable choice and service. This means more perfect orders that are on time and in full, with deliveries back to the kitchen table.

“We are also championing smaller suppliers and creating more of the M&S magic for customers by offering more of the products they love. While the trading environment remains challenging, we expect to build momentum through the second half of the year, as we improve our proposition, grow our customer base, and no longer lap Covid shopping behaviours. This solid 2023 performance will enable us to return to sales growth and profitability.”