LONDON: Aldi has said it will start selling goods online in the UK next year, as it announced record annual sales in 2014.
The discount supermarket chain will start its online service by selling wine by the case, and then add non-food offers in the spring.
Aldi’s sales rose 31% to £6.9bn in the 12 months to 31 December, compared with £5.27bn the year before.
However, operating profits fell to £260.3m from £271.4m, partly due to price cuts.
The retailer, which currently operates 598 stores in the UK, also said it was “on track” to open 65 new stores this year.
Aldi is the UK’s sixth largest supermarket chain, according to analysts at Kantar Worldpanel, with a market share of 5.6% in the 12 weeks to 13 September.
Rapid growth
For its online service, Aldi said it would offer customers home delivery and collection from third party locations.
However, Matthew Barnes, chief executive of Aldi UK & Ireland, said the retailer would not necessarily start selling food online.
“I wouldn’t say it’s inevitable. Wine by the case and non-food is the most viable place for us to start,” he told reporters.
“We wouldn’t do anything to endanger our model or threaten our cost base.”
