Woolworths online

Australian online grocery expenditure rose 17.3 per cent to A$2.4bn in the 12 months to October 2014, according to an online retail index released by National Australia Bank (NAB).

The results encompass all grocery items and liquor sales, with the sector now Australia’s third largest online segment behind department stores and homeware.

“As people become more familiar with the technology, their confidence grows,' Peter King, NAB's consumer sectors Australia head, told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'They see it as a convenience.”

Leading supermarket chain Woolworths remains Australia’s largest e-commerce grocery retailer, announcing more than A$1bn in annual sales earlier this year.

Total online expenditure rose 11.9 per cent A$16.2bn over the 12 month period, exceeding the growth rate of traditional retail.