In 2023, ecommerce companies in the UK generated a total revenue of over $130 billion.
Moreover, ecommerce sales are expected to grow by 4.1% in 2024, which helps the UK keep its position as the most advanced ecommerce market in Europe.
Although the industry is largely dominated by the likes of Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, and more, there are many rapidly growing ecommerce companies in the UK.
Here, we take a look at:
- Fastest-growing ecommerce companies in the UK
- Online stores (marketplaces) with the highest net sales
- Important UK ecommerce statistics & facts
along with additional insights that can help you explore top ecommerce companies from the UK.
Rising Ecommerce Companies in the UK
Let’s explore the fastest-growing ecommerce companies in the UK:
[store-lists]
Top Online Stores (Marketplaces) in the UK
Here are the best online stores & marketplaces in the UK, sorted by the net sales they generated in 2023:
Amazon
Online Store Launch: 1998
Amazon UK offers an extensive range of products including books, electronics, clothing, groceries, and much more.
Known for its vast selection, competitive pricing, and efficient logistics, Amazon UK provides a convenient and reliable online shopping experience.
Customers can also enjoy services like Amazon Prime for expedited shipping, Prime Video for streaming, and various other benefits that enhance their shopping and entertainment experiences.
Amazon UK Facts & Statistics
- Amazon’s net sales in the UK have doubled since 2018.
- In 2023, the United Kingdom became Amazon’s third-largest market, with net sales of $33.6B.
- Amazon operates 20 distribution centers in the UK, marking its largest European logistics and fulfillment network.
- In April 2024, Amazon UK’s total visits reached 326.6 million.
- Currently, over 100,000 UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sell their products through Amazon’s global stores.
- With over 1,600 participants, Amazon hosts one of the UK’s largest and most diverse apprenticeship schemes.
- Amazon has invested over £56 billion in the UK since 2010.
- More than 2,700 employees are stationed across Amazon’s four UK Development Centers.
Sainsbury’s
Online Store Launch: 1999
Sainsbury’s provides a wide variety of goods including groceries and home products.
The company focuses on providing high-quality, affordable products within sections for different departments like Sainsbury’s Bank, Argos, and Habitat.
Sainsbury’s online store also promotes various savings programs, such as the Nectar rewards system, which enhances the shopping experience by offering tailored discounts and benefits.
Sainsbury’s UK Facts & Statistics
- Sainsbury’s has invested £560 million over two years to enhance value for customers.
- Since March 2023, Sainsbury’s has invested £220 million and a total of £780 million over the past three years to keep prices low and pass on less inflation than the market average.
- Most of Sainsbury’s customers now regularly benefit from Nectar Prices, saving £12 on a typical £80 weekly grocery bill.
- Nectar Prices extend to around 7,000 products, allowing customers to save a total of £1.3 billion since the launch of the program.
- Over the last three years, Sainsbury’s has achieved £1.3 billion in cost savings.
- The company donated over 10 million meals through Neighbourly.
- Argos, a part of Sainsbury’s, was the third most visited retail website in the UK last year, with over 70% of its sales starting online.
- Over the last year, Sainsbury’s provided £66.4 million of additional support to British meat, dairy, and produce farmers.
- Sainsbury’s introduced nearly 1,200 new products and achieved a 12% sales growth in its Taste the Difference line.
Tesco
Online Store Launch: 2000
From groceries and clothing to electronics and homeware, Tesco provides everything a shopper might need under one roof.
The company is committed to affordability and convenience, offering competitive prices and a loyalty scheme through the Tesco Clubcard, which provides discounts and rewards for regular customers.
Additionally, Tesco extends its reach beyond retail to include financial services and mobile phone offerings, ensuring they meet the wide-ranging needs of their customers.
Tesco UK Facts & Statistics
- The Tesco online store serves more than 20 million customers visiting the site every month.
- Tesco currently commands 26% of the overall market share in the UK.
- By January 2000 it was the biggest online grocery store in the world with annualised sales of £125 million and 2,000 new customers signing up with Tesco Direct every week.
- Tesco Clubcard has gained over 20 million users since its launch.
- Clubcard helps customers save up to £360 off the annual cost of their groceries.
- With a new AI-powered Clubcard Challenge, customers can collect up to £50 in Clubcard points.
- Tesco contributes an additional £75m to British agriculture.
- Tesco’s overall revenue for the UK and ROI amounted to over 60 billion British pounds in 2022/23.
- Tesco employs over 309,000 people in the UK.
Asda
Online Store Launch: 1998
Known for its wide range of products and commitment to affordability, Asda offers an extensive selection of groceries, clothing under its George label, household items, and more.
The Asda online store provides a comprehensive online shopping experience, featuring easy navigation for food shopping, apparel purchases, and pharmaceutical needs.
It includes services like home delivery and click-and-collect, enhancing convenience for customers. The site also highlights Asda’s initiatives like price guarantees and special discounts.
Asda UK Facts & Statistics
- Asda’s online store serves 98% of UK homes.
- Asda’s brand awareness in the UK stands at 97 per cent.
- 48% of UK online grocery delivery users express a preference for Asda.
- Introduced in 2011, Grocery Click and Collect has expanded to more than 15 million orders annually.
- The Asda Rewards app is used by 5 million customers across the UK.
- Asda Rewards helped customers save over £400 million in Cashpots for use in-store or online.
- Asda has recently announced new price reductions on hundreds of products totaling £70 million, continuing its commitment to lowering shopping costs for its customers.
- Asda reported a 9.6% increase in sales year over year, including a 14.7% rise in own-brand sales.
- In the 12 weeks up to September 3, 2023, Asda’s sales rose by 5.1%compared to the same period the previous year.
10 Important Statistics for Ecommerce Companies in the UK
Let’s explore important statistics for ecommerce companies in the UK:
In 2023, ecommerce companies in the United Kingdom generated a total revenue of $131.5B, with projections to rise to $185.37B by 2028.
The UK hosts the most developed ecommerce market in Europe. It’s home to nearly 60 million ecommerce users, which is expected to grow to 62.7 million by 2029.
In 2023, the ARPU for personal care ecommerce was $114.8 in the UK.
Amazon leads as the top ecommerce platform in the UK, attracting over 500 million monthly visits as of March 2024.
On average, online shoppers in the UK spend $126 on desktop purchases compared to $102 on tablets and $86 on mobile phones.
More than 42% of shoppers in the United Kingdom begin their purchase journeys via search engines.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) in the UK ecommerce market is expected to increase by $577.5 between 2024 and 2029.
In 2023, the keyword ‘boots’ topped the competitiveness chart in the UK with a score of 94, while ‘sneakers’ and ‘sandals’ scored 70 and 65, respectively.
With a 21% market share, Shopify is the second leading ecommerce platform in the UK as of 2024.
The revenue in the UK’s furniture ecommerce market is forecasted to grow by a total of $5.9B between 2024 and 2029.
BONUS: Please refer to our additional sources for more facts and & stats about ecommerce companies in the UK:
Sources of Statistics for Ecommerce Companies in the UK
Here are the sources used for stats:
