Ocado price lottery
Firm bids farewell to Waitrose and starts selling M&S food – but you may be better off shopping in-store
THE nation’s love of online shopping shows no sign of slowing as Marks & Spencer’s full line of food products becomes available online.
The supermarket giant’s partnership with Ocado, which has switched from Waitrose, goes live today with the arrival of Percy Pig-themed vans on streets.
Lockdown has turbo-charged the internet shopping revolutions, with the proportion of customers who do an online supermarket shop at least once a week doubling to 25 per cent in the past year.
Ocado’s sales have surged by 45 per cent on last year while major supermarkets are adding thousands of staff and delivery slots.
But the trend comes with a sting in the tail – not only are there hefty delivery charges, the prices are something of a lottery.
A snapshot survey found that prices charged for M&S products through the Ocado website are often higher than in stores, even before a delivery charge of up to £6.99. An M&S Our Best Ever Steak Pie (500g) was £6.50 through Ocado versus £6 in store, and a beef lasagne was £4.50 compared with £4. By contrast, a chicken curry and an olive oil spread were cheaper.
Food products account for more than half of M&S profits and the chain has added more than 750 products to its existing ranges. These will be sold alongside the 50,000 products available through its £1.5 billion deal with Ocado.
M&S Food managing director Stuart Machin, said: ‘This is a longterm partnership and in preparation for go-live we have listened intently to customers to deliver an even bigger, better range.’ Ocado
Retail chief executive Melanie Smith said: ‘We are excited to be bringing the greatest range of products to loyal and new customers across the UK.’
Ocado added: ‘Ocado Retail is an independent business from M&S and sets its own prices across M&S, Ocado own brand and big-branded suppliers based on its commercial strategy.’