Online sales of groceries will almost double over the next five years, according to new research.

IGD data suggests online sales in the grocery trade will surge from the estimated £5.9bn to £11.2bn in 2016. That would take the proportion of groceries sold online to 6%. Currently, the proportion stands up 3.8% of the total grocery market.

“Online is the fastest-growing grocery channel and one which will be used more widely in the future as shoppers become increasingly multi-channel,” said IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch, speaking at the annual online retailing event.

“Our research shows us that even those shoppers that don’t currently buy their groceries online intend to do so in the future.”

She added: “As the market is constantly changing, it’s still difficult to predict exactly what online grocery retailing will look like in the next few years. What is exciting, however, is how the digital revolution will evolve and shape our industry in the years to come.”

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