FDBusiness.com

Online retailing for food and consumer goods in France is set to double from €5 billion to €10.6 billion, ranking it second in Europe after the UK, according to figures by IGD. The research also found that Germany is predicted to reach €2.5 bilion, up from its current value of €1.1 billion, holding third position.

Growth in France is driven primarily by the expansion of ‘click and collect’ – or ‘Drive’ as it is known is some markets – with the number of Drive outlets doubling in the past 15 months.

The increase in Germany’s online grocery market can be attributed to retailers such as Edeka and Rewe, who have recently invested into the channel and continue to expand.

IGD’s research also found:

* Online grocery shopping in the UK – which ranks first in Europe- is forecast to be worth €13.7 billion by 2016

*Netherlands, in fourth place, is projected to be worth €1.6 billion. This is largely due to Albert Heijn’s opening of additional pick-up points, as well as new and existing retailers such as Coop Supermarkten and Superdirect.com also developing their presence online.

Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive of IGD, comments: “Online retailing in food and consumer goods is growing at a phenomenal rate across Europe. Technology is empowering people, fundamentally changing the way they buy groceries. Online shoppers are becoming more demanding and the divisions between online and bricks and mortar stores are blurring.”

She adds: “Although we forecast the value of online grocery retailing to double in several European countries over the next few years, each market is evolving using different models, highlighting that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We predict that the online channel will continue to accelerate at rapid pace globally and is set to rise further up the agenda as retailers and manufacturers continue to invest in their multichannel operations.”