Original article by Chloe Rigby, published on www.internetretailing.net, January 12, 2018.

The chain reported a record Christmas week in a third-quarter trading statement out this week.

It said retail sales, excluding fuel, rose by 1.2% in total and by 1.1% on a like-for-like basis over the 15 weeks to January 6. Food sales were up by 2.3%, with online sales up by 8.2% and convenience sales up by 7.3%. But sales of general merchandise, through both its Sainsbury’s and Argos brands, were down by 1.4%, although online sales grew by more than 8%.

Fast track collection grew by 39% and delivery by 25% during the quarter, especially during Black Friday and in the final run up to Christmas, when shoppers could order for same day delivery until 1pm on Christmas Eve. Its last same-day delivery was at 6.39pm that day. So far 164 Argos stores have been opened in Sainsbury’s supermarkets and it also has 15 Mini Habitat stores in supermarkets. There are also 204 digital collection points in supermarkets, including 37 in convenience stores for shoppers to pick up Argos, DPD, eBay and Tu clothing online orders.

Chief executive Mike Coupe said: “We had a strong Christmas week, with record sales, over 340,000 online grocery orders and stellar growth in Argos Fast Track delivery and collection. Online accounted for 20% of the Group’s sales during the quarter.

“We delivered an excellent operational performance across the group, with great availability, strong customer satisfaction scores and our lowest level of waste ever at Christmas. Friday 22nd was our biggest sales day for stores and we also delivered an online grocery order to customers every second.”

It now plans to focus on differentiating its food offer and extending multichannel services including same-day grocery delivery, now available from 93 stores, and SmartShop scan as you go shopping.