Aldi to start online sales for first time

However, it said increased investments “in prices and people” saw operating profits fall to £260.3m from £271.4m.

The move is part of Aldi’s wider growth strategy as more and more British consumers choose to do their shopping online with companies such as Ocado.

Items purchased online can be delivered to customers at home or picked up locally through the existing CollectPlus network, which uses corner shops and newsagents as pick-up points.

To continue momentum, Aldi, which now runs 598 stores in the United Kingdom, plans to open 65 new stores by the end of the year.

Aldi’s United Kingdom chief executive Matthew Barnes said: “Our launch online is another exciting chapter in our story”.

Wine by the case will be available for home delivery or collection, starting early in 2016, the retailer said in a statement Monday as it reported a 31 per cent increase in 2014 revenue.

But recent data suggests it is now in better shape than big rivals Tesco, Morrisons and Asda. “Its move online, we believe, is another reason why the retailer will continue to outpace the market over the next five-10 years”, she said. It said its £2 billion balance sheet would underpin continued investment.

The privately-owned business said it had created 7,000 jobs and paid £57.9 million of tax in 2014. During that time, the grocery market has changed beyond recognition – and changed for the better. “We’re hugely excited about the enormous scope for growth over the next 25 years”.

Julie Palmer, partner at business recovery consultancy Begbies Traynor, said Aldi’s results were disappointing and reflected the ongoing supermarket price war. Along with Lidl, closely-held Aldi has shaken up the United Kingdom grocery market.

However some of Aldi’s biggest rivals, such as Tesco and Sainsburys, have had a well-established online offering for some time, and are now looking to broaden their technological offerings.