Online grocer Ocado experienced a sales surge of 14.2% to £91.6m in the six weeks to January 6 on the back of soaring fourth quarter revenue, which jumped 12.4%.

The online grocer said customer orders were up 11.4% year on year over Christmas as it experienced “strong basket growth”.

Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner said: “It was a very good festive season for us, evidenced by growth in orders, basket size and sales. We are pleased to have helped record numbers of customers enjoy Christmas without the stresses and strains of visiting a physical supermarket.

“As has been seen elsewhere in our sector, Christmas has amplified the fact that shopping online for groceries is of increasing importance for consumers. In 2013, we will substantially increase our capacity with the opening of our second fulfilment centre, and so we hope to make it possible for many more customers to escape crowded aisles, checkouts and car parks.”  

In the week before Christmas sales jumped 17.1% to £21.8m. Both Ocado own-label products and non-food items soared 70% over the period.

In its fourth quarter to December 2, sales jumped to £237.1m as average orders per week rose 11.4% to more than 125,000. Average order size edged up 1% to £110.70.

For Ocado’s full year, sales surged 13.9% to £731.2m in the 53 week period to December 2, or 11.4% in the 52 weeks to November 25.

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