New research from Mintel has found that 29 per cent of online grocery shoppers in the UK are shopping for their groceries online more now than a year ago.
Online grocery sales are forecast to reach £9.8 billion ($18.16 billion) in 2016, a 13 per cent increase on the estimated £8.6 billion ($15.94 billion) worth of sales in 2015. By 2020, sales are forecast to grow 73 per cent to £15 billion ($27.8 billion). Online grocery sales account for six per cent of total grocery sales in the UK.
“The online grocery market continues to grow in double digits, but remains small in the context of the wider grocery market,” Mintel Retail Analyst Nick Carroll said. “However, the shift away from superstores to more convenient shopping channels is certainly benefiting the market, with the majority of consumers now doing some grocery shopping online and almost a third saying that they now shop online more than a year ago.”
Nearly half of shoppers in the UK now buy their groceries online, while one in 10 purchases are made online exclusively, particularly in the demographic of 24-35 year olds, 19 per cent of whom conduct all their grocery shopping online.
Not all shoppers have joined the online revolution, though, with 24 per cent saying that they had never shopped online and have no interest in doing so. Those who have stopped shopping online have done so because of lack of control over fresh produce selected (38 per cent), high delivery charges (26 per cent) or have moved to discount retailers (25 per cent).
“As we see Brits turning away from the main weekly shop and towards fluid, when-needed shopping, it is important for online grocery retailers to find a way to engage with these consumers,” Mr Carroll said. “A wider proliferation of delivery passes may be one way in which retailers can do so as it makes more frequent online grocery shops viable.”