In August 2020, the number of UK consumers shopping for their weekly groceries online doubled since the start of the pandemic. Although numbers fell in August this year due to coronavirus restrictions easing, some supermarkets are bringing back their full online services to meet customer demand.

Nigel Blunt, Sainsbury’s director of e-commerce, said: “Customer demand for shopping online and for getting groceries quickly and conveniently has grown significantly.

“And we are committed to offering customers choice and flexibility – whether that’s within 20 minutes to their front door or picking it up at their local store on their way home from work.”

Sainsbury’s now has capacity for 850,000 online grocery orders a week.

It is also planning to expand its rapid delivery services through Deliveroo and Uber.

Many major UK supermarkets, such as Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Co-op, are expanding their rapid delivery and collection services to compete with other, more unconventional fast grocery deliverers.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “As life becomes more normal, we are continuing to change so that we can meet our customers’ needs.”

In other Sainsbury’s news, the supermarket giant has announced it will close its stores for two whole days over the Christmas period.

Sainsbury’s shops across the country will shut on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day to give workers a well-deserved break.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “Christmas is a really special time for so many, but because of lockdown restrictions last year, lots of us were not able to celebrate in the way we wanted.

“In recognition of this and to say a massive thank you to all our colleagues for everything they have done during the last challenging year, we will be closing all of our supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol filling stations, as well as Argos and Habitat stores, this Boxing Day.

“I want to thank our customers in advance for their understanding, which will mean as many of our team as possible can have a well-deserved break to spend time with loved ones.”