Asda to offer faster delivery and app ordering from 2027 as it overhauls struggling online business
British supermarket Asda has partnered with technology firm Ocado to overhaul its struggling online business, promising customers faster deliveries, expanded click-and-collect options, and ordering through apps like Uber Eats and Deliveroo from 2027.
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Asda customers will gain access to rapid delivery, expanded click-and-collect options, and the ability to order through apps like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat starting in 2027.
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Ocado will replace Asda's e-commerce infrastructure with new technology including a redesigned webshop, in-store fulfilment systems, and software for last-mile delivery planning across 1,100 stores.
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The overhaul comes after Asda's core profit dropped 33% in 2025 and the supermarket lost market share to Tesco, Sainsbury's, Lidl, and Aldi.
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Asda's existing online business generates £3 billion ($4 billion) in annual sales with more than 700,000 e-commerce orders weekly, representing 1.5% of the UK grocery market.
The deal is a boost for Ocado after a major setback last year, when its North American partners – Kroger in the US and Sobeys in Canada – closed some robotic customer fulfilment centres, citing weaker-than-expected demand.
Ocado shares rose 12.3%, paring losses over the last year to 10.3%.
Asda, majority owned by private equity firm TDR Capital, is Britain's third-largest grocer but has been losing ground to rivals including industry leader Tesco, number two Sainsbury's and discounters Lidl and Aldi. Asda's core profit slumped 33% in 2025.
Asda trades from about 1,100 stores and already runs a sizeable online grocery business, handling more than 700,000 e-commerce orders a week. Its annual online sales of about £3 billion ($4 billion) equate to about 1.5% of the UK grocery market. Its total share is 11.5%.
Ocado to power Asda's webshop and delivery from 2027
Under the deal, Asda will replace and upgrade its existing e-commerce infrastructure using Ocado's technology, with solutions rolled out across stores and "dark stores" – which fulfil online orders and are not open to the public – from 2027.
"These solutions include Ocado's front-end (webshop), in-store fulfilment, and software to support last mile planning and route efficiency," Ocado said.
The partnership will allow Asda to offer a full range of online services, including scheduled and short lead-time orders, as well as click and collect. Asda will also use Ocado’s platform to fulfil and deliver orders placed through aggregators such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat.
"Partnering with Ocado will strengthen our online offer," Allan Leighton, Asda's executive chairman, said.
Ocado CEO Tim Steiner told Reuters he hoped the deal "was the start of a long journey together," noting that in the future Asda could sell Ocado products.
Ocado already has a UK partnership with Morrisons, the number six grocer, and a 50% stake in Ocado Retail, its online delivery joint venture with Marks & Spencer. M&S declined to comment.
Ocado said the Asda deal is not expected to have a material financial impact in its 2025/26 year. It reiterated that it expects to turn cash-flow positive in the second half of 2025/26 and for the full year in 2026/27.
JPMorgan analyst Marcus Diebel estimated the deal is worth an annual 20 million pounds of incremental core earnings for Ocado from 2027.
As for more deals, Steiner said Ocado is "engaged in a lot of conversations in many places."
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