AO World recorded its strongest ever peak trading period in the run-up to Christmas. In the three months to 31 December, UK revenue climbed by 67.2% to £457.3 million while revenue in Germany increased by 77.4% to €73.6 million.
In a trading statement, AO said the significant demand for its products and services seen since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic carried on throughout its third quarter. As a result, the company continued to invest in additional warehouse staff, vehicles and drivers.
AO founder and chief executive John Roberts said: “We backed ourselves by investing early in warehouses, vehicles, stock and people. This not only set us up to satisfy customer demand for electricals for the current crisis but also for the longer term, as the structural shift to online becomes a permanent feature of the market in the UK and Germany. One of our biggest achievements this period is to have our German business profitable throughout Q3.
“Now that customers have experienced a better, digital-first way to shop for electricals, I believe the majority will never look back. We intend to cement that change by raising the bar on our service and proposition in ways that only AO can deliver.”
