Online grocery shopping could double in five years

It forecasts that UK shoppers will spend £7.2bn on food in 2014, double what was spent in 2009.

The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) said that 13% of adults have shopped online for their groceries, up 63% from 2006.

Three out of five of online grocery shoppers use more than one online store for their food shopping.

The industry body also found that 24% of shoppers intend to try an alternative supermarket’s online offer in the next three months and 24% said they would like to but are put off by the perceived effort involved.  

Just 7% expect to shop exclusively online with 34% expecting only to shop in supermarket stores.  

IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch said: “Our research shows there is a great opportunity for grocery retailers and manufacturers to encourage shoppers to try online food shopping.

“People are increasingly mixing the channels they use for their weekly or monthly shop. Many are choosing to visit their local store on a regular basis, while purchasing a number of bulk items, like tinned foods and toiletries online less frequently.”