Ocado expects a rise in sales through mobile devices following the launch of the new iPad.

The online grocer said the third incarnation of the Apple tablet, unveiled on Wednesday, would boost sales through the channel owing to the tablet’s “increased proliferation” among its well-heeled customers.

Finance director Andrew Bracey noted that mobile shopping accounted for 20% of all Ocado checkouts during the past year.

Shoppers have responded strongly to the introduction late last year of one-click ordering on iPad, designed to speed up transactions for customers.

Ocado’s gross sales rose 10.9% to £162.1m in the 12 weeks to February 19. Average orders per week jumped 13.4% though the average order size dipped from £118 to £115.

The etailer is trialling the second version of its unique “order storage and retrieval” system, which brings ambient items to the picker, rather than vice versa set to come on stream imminently.

Ocado wants to increase its product range from 21,000 SKUs to 40,000 within 18 months.

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