Operating Review
Sainsbury’s online
Our online operation has had an outstanding year. Sales grew by 49 per cent, with a record Christmas performance. We now cover 83 per cent of UK postcodes and have 64,000 customers each week. New customers continue to be attracted to the service via recommendations from family and friends – the most powerful advocates we could have. We are the first grocery retailer to operate an Electric Zero Emission vehicle. By Autumn 2008, the 3.5 tonne van, which is suitable for urban areas, will be responsible for the transport of 20 per cent of all our online orders and our online drivers will continue to collect customers’ unwanted Sainsbury’s plastic carrier bags for recycling.
We believe there is significant growth potential in the online operation and we plan to increase capacity in areas of high demand. As a result the number of stores operating this service will reach 200 by March 2010 and we expect sales to more than double over the next three years.
