Sainsbury's Direct on the way next year?

November 14 2008 - from internetretailing.net

Sainsbury's Direct on the way next year?
As the supermarket announced increased sales and profits this week, it also revealed online sales are up 30% — and plans are on track for the introduction of non-food online sales in 2009


Sainsbury's reported an online sales increase of 30% this week with orders now hitting its 100,000 per week target and, by value, 'currently annualising' to £500m or some 2% of overall sales.

Non-food online sales, the supermarket says, are on track for the first half of the 2009/10 financial year.

"We have delivered a good performance during the first half of the year. Our results are testament to the considerable progress made over the past four years as part of the Making Sainsbury's Great Again recovery plan," said Sainsbury's chairman Philip Hampton. "Sainsbury's is now a more robust business, with a strong financial position and capable of responding successfully to the current challenging economic conditions."

Total sales for the first half were up 8.3% (5.0% excluding fuel) and like-for-like sales were up 7.4% (3.9% excluding fuel). Underlying profit before tax for the first half was up 13.3% to £272 million.

"Our universal customer appeal has been fundamental to our sustained performance and we have continued to invest in both product quality and competitive pricing," Justin King, Sainsbury's chief executive said. "Sainsbury's is catering for, and appealing to, the full range of customer needs and budgets. Sainsbury's has also continued to drive cost efficiencies and this, alongside the good sales performance, has delivered further profit growth."