Retail giants aim to go the extra mile June 2, 2015 Online demand is moving retail sheds closer to town THE BOOM in online retailing has created a scramble for small plots of land close to city centres that can be used as nimble distribution hubs for the click-and-collect generation. Vast 500,000 square feet to 1m sq ft warehouses at the heart of the countryside were [...]
Ocado sales jump 19.2 per cent as company says it expects to keep growing ahead of the curve March 10, 2015 The figures Ocado’s group sales jumped 19.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to 22 February, rising to £271.1m, from £227.5m during the same period last year. Meanwhile, retail sales were up a similarly impressive 15.2 per cent to £252.0m, two months after the company reported its first profit. Ocado said that on 22 February it had [...]
Online grocery delivery firm Ocado follows first profit with a bigger share of the market March 10, 2015 OCADO yesterday reported an acceleration in sales growth of 15.2 per cent to £252m in the first quarter of its financial year. The online supermarket exceeded analysts’ estimates and shows a gain in the online grocery and overall market shares. Revenue rose by 19.2 per cent to £271m in the 12 weeks to 22 February, [...]
Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner heralds “online grocery revolution” as firm records first full year profit February 3, 2015 Ocado has made its first full-year profit in the company's 15-year history The figures Pre-tax profit was £7.2m for the 12 months to 30 November, compared to a loss of £12.5m during the equivalent period a year earlier. Sales went up from £843m to £972.4m, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose [...]
Unleash the Junior Isas: How do the experts invest to unlock decades-long returns April 23, 2015 With a time horizon of up to 18 years, Junior Isas have tremendous growth potential. Annabelle Williams asks the experts how they invest to unlock decades-long returns. One of the best ways to save for your child’s future is the Junior Isa (Jisa). As with an adult Isa, there is an annual allowance for each [...]
Retailers slammed for “dodgy” discounting practices in super-complaint to CMA April 21, 2015 Retailers could face an investigation into their discounts and promotional activity after consumer campaigning group Which filed a “super-complaint” to the Competition and Markets Authority. Which claims retailers are “confusing consumers with tactics that exaggerate discounts and manipulate shoppers”, arguing they create “the illusion of savings that don't exist”. The complaint comes on the [...]
Ocado Christmas sales soar and looks ahead to first ever full-year profit January 14, 2015 Online grocer Ocado reported its customer fulfilment centres processed close to 40 per cent more items in the week to Christmas for Ocado.com and Morrisons.com than over the same period the previous year. On the company's biggest day in the run-up to Christmas sales climbed 15 per cent from 2013 to almost £6m. Gross sales [...]
Is Uber planning an on-demand service for luxury shopping deliveries? April 29, 2015 Uber could be delivering more than just people from A to B: the controversial taxi app is said to be eyeing a move into shopping deliveries. Not just any kind of delivery, though – Uber doesn't want to be the next Ocado. It wants to deliver luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, Hugo Boss [...]
Tesco director Simon Belsham to become chief executive of online marketplace Notonthehighstreet March 20, 2015 Tesco's online managing director Simon Belsham is joining emerging etailer Notonthehighstreet.com as its new chief executive. Belsham, who has been at Tesco.com for just over two years, will join the online marketplace for small businesses in May 2015. Belsham has a strong background of online retail. Prior to his current role, he worked at [...]
Ocado says it is at forefront of food revolution February 3, 2015 Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner said the “online grocery revolution” taking place will only help to further distance his firm from rivals and stay ahead of the market, as it posted its first ever full-year profit. The online grocer made an adjusted pre-tax profit of £10.1m in the year to 30 November compared with £3.8m [...]