Catch reports near 300 per cent increase on sales of household goods

Ruth Hogan

31st Mar 2020

With Australian supermarkets under pressure to maintain stock levels, and many consumers heeding government advice to stay home where possible, online retailers have witnessed a surge in sales in the last month.

In early March, Roy Morgan reported that online grocery sales increased by over 45 per cent in the prior weeks, putting logistical pressure on retailers’ delivery networks alongside increasing pressure to keep shelves filled as consumers continue to stockpile grocery and medical items.

Online retailer Catch.com.au has now reported a major uplift in site activity in recent weeks as consumers gravitate online, with traffic to its grocery pages up 467 per cent YoY.

Household, pantry, health and baby products have proved the most popular, with the retailer working around the clock to maintain supply and meet demand.

Sales of household goods on the site soared by 290 per cent compared to the same period last year, pantry goods, such as pasta, noodles and rice, rose 234 per cent, while health and beauty lifted 233 per cent.

The online retailer, which was purchased by Wesfarmers last year for $230 million, operates as an independent business unit under the leadership of Kmart Group managing director Ian Bailey.

Since the deal was completed, Catch has benefited from the support of Kmart Group’s scale and capabilities to drive growth. Now, the focus in on maintaining stock and a reliable delivery service throughout this busy period.

“Our number one priority during these uncertain times is our customers and making sure they have access to the products they need, when they need it. We will continue to bring our customers a convenient shopping experience from the comfort of their home across a huge range of products,” Nati Harpaz, managing director, Catch.com.au said.

As with Australia’s big supermarkets, the online retailer has been forced to implement limits on certain high-demand products such as wipes and soaps.

“By working with our partners to source extra stock and by imposing a limit on certain items, we aim to help those in need of products such as kitchen and pantry essentials,” Harpaz said.