Online supermarket, Ocado, saw a 3.4% rise in sales for the first quarter of the year.

Sales were up to £583.7m in the 13 weeks to February 26, despite customers shopping in smaller quantities, as reported by Retail Gazette.

An average basket was 7.5% smaller, but this was offset by an 8.3% increase in the average selling price.

Ocado said order frequency had returned to pre-Covid levels, with average orders per week 3.6% higher for the quarter.

The company said it continues to attract more customers by investing in value through its new Ocado Price Promise, championing smaller supplier and offering more M&S products.

It said the solid performance for the first quarter will enable Ocado to return to sales growth and profitability, after it suffered a £501m loss in 2022.