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New spoke will handle over 14,000 orders per week and create up to 190 new jobs in the region

Ocado Group plc (“Ocado”), the online supermarket, today announces it has exchanged contracts to lease a 2-acre site in Wimbledon, south west London. The site, which features two warehouses totalling 38,500 sq ft., will be used as a distribution spoke through which Ocado will be able to facilitate 14,200 orders per week, and create up to 190 new jobs.

Work to upgrade the two warehouses ready for operation will begin immediately, with the spoke site set to open in late May. At peak capacity the new distribution spoke, serving existing delivery geography and taking capacity from Ocado’s regional distribution sites in Weybridge, Surrey and Dartford, Kent, will employ up to 190 people and operate 60 vans (adding to Ocado’s current fleet of 770 delivery vehicles).

The new spoke site, part of the Crown Estate, will primarily serve the south west London area and immediate surrounds.

Tim Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado, said:

"The new Wimbledon distribution spoke site will not only help us grow our customer base in south London but will free capacity at the existing Ocado sites in Weybridge and Dartford and enable them to grow further too. We are pleased to be extending our service in London and creating more local jobs. We remain as focused as ever on improving the customer offer, and delivering both service satisfaction and strong growth.” Earlier this month, Ocado announced its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 28 November 2010. Gross sales increased 29% to £551.1m, and profitability was reached in the second half of the year, including at a pre-tax profit level in the fourth quarter.

Notes to editors

Contact information

M&C Saatchi
+44 (0) 207 543 4500
ocado@mcsaatchi.com

ABOUT OCADO

Online supermarket ocado.com was established in 2000 and is one of Britain’s leading online retailers. Delivering to over 70% of the UK population, every shopping bag is carefully packed in one of three distribution centres using in-house designed software and technology. Shopping is then delivered direct to customers using a network of regional spokes in brightly-coloured vans.

With award-winning mobile apps for every platform, Ocado on the Go, Ocado delivers over 40,000 products, including big-name brands, a range of over 650 Ocado Own Label products and a growing non-food selection. Thoughtful service features such as colour-coded bags, receipts provided in date order, reminder texts with your driver’s name, along with with convenient hourly delivery slots compliment award winning customer service on email, phone and social media.

For all the latest news, images and details of awards, head to the Media Centre at ocadogroup.com

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Ocado to open new Wimbledon distribution spoke