Pick n Pay said on Tuesday that its online sales have surged by 38% in the past year, far outstripping group-wide turnover growth of 8,2% in the 52 weeks ended 1 March 2016.
The retailer attributed the strong growth in sales at Pick n Pay Online to a “stronger range and a substantial improvement in product availability”.
It said it is “particularly pleased” with growth in demand from its business-to-business online customers.
It did not reveal a turnover figure for Pick n Pay Online.
“The online business in the Western Cape has benefited from the dedicated picking warehouse established at the Brackenfell Hypermarket last year, and the group will look to invest in a similar solution in the Gauteng region of South Africa, towards the end of this year,” it told investors in notes accompanying its full-year results.
Pick n Pay said that improving the performance of its Hypermarket division “remains a key priority for the group”, and online sales will play a role here.
“Our refurbished hypermarket stores are delivering stronger sales from less space, and are finding innovative alternative uses for freed-up space, including through rentals to other operators and conversion of space to other uses such as fulfilment of online grocery orders,” it said.
For the 52 weeks to end-March, Pick n Pay reported group turnover of R72,4bn, up from R66,9bn previously. Headline earnings per share, excluding capital profits and losses on the disposal and impairment of assets, rose by 26,4%, while trading profit was 22,2% higher at R1,5bn. — (c) 2016 NewsCentral Media