Diamond Logistics said demand for ecommerce fulfilment propelled it to a strong summer performance, with the business running 19% ahead year-on-year in June, 12% up in July and 18.87% in August.
Leading the way was food and drink, which outperformed other sectors across Diamond’s customer base and was supported by continued warm weather, alongside major summer sporting events.
The strongest growth came from sectors where online ordering was embedded in everyday purchasing behaviour – with food and drink at the forefront.
Coffee businesses were among the strongest performers in Diamond’s customer base; its largest coffee client moved to the top of the network’s rankings in June, while a bakery and food producer entered the top 20 alongside a second coffee client.
Diamond said the trend reflected the growing importance of convenience and direct delivery for food and drink businesses beyond the traditional supermarket model.
The company’s results came on the back of the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, which showed online sales accounted for 29.4% of total UK retail spending in June – the highest proportion since April 2021 and despite a small dip in July, the online market remained robust.
Kate Lester, founder and CEO of Diamond Logistics & Technology Group, said: “We’ve had a very strong summer, with the business 19% ahead year-on-year in June, 12% ahead in July and 18.87% up in August.
“That is a significant result and comes at a time when consumers are still being very careful about where they spend.
“The ONS figures are important because they confirm that online retail is continuing to take a larger share of total retail spending. But what matters to us is what sits underneath that number.
“What is particularly encouraging is that consumers are still spending,” she added.
“Whilst they may be more selective about where they spend that in turn creates real opportunities for brands selling products that are useful, bought regularly or simply more convenient to purchase online.
“Food and drink is clearly leading the way for us, while health and beauty and pet care are also showing the strength that comes from repeat purchasing and everyday demand.”
