Value of buying online to double

Internet grocery shopping is predicted to nearly double to £9.5bn over the next five years, up from £4.8bn currently.

IGD said online shopping will represent 5.2 per cent of the overall UK grocery market by 2015, compared to the current 3.2 per cent.

Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive of IGD, said: “Online grocery retailing is already growing at a phenomenal rate and there is still plenty of potential for significant expansion. Although online has a small share of the overall grocery market, it will be the fastest growing channel.”

The research found that seven per cent of shoppers are buying all their regular groceries online. IGD’s latest ShopperTrack data shows that 13 per cent said they will use the internet to do more of their food and grocery shopping.

“Retailers are driving online growth through new developments, such as ‘click and collect’, introducing smart phone apps and building stores specifically to cater for online orders,” said Ms Denney-Finch.

“Wider delivery coverage and better home internet connections are some of the other reasons why internet grocery retail has the potential to grow significantly.”

Younger shoppers are spearheading the switch to online with 22 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds saying they will use the internet more.