ATHENS — Online purchases have gained a significant share of supermarket sales, a survey by the Research Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA) said on Tuesday. The survey, conducted on a sample of 850 people, showed that online purchases from supermarkets is up to 25 pct of total purchases, from 1-2.0 pct in 2019, while four out of 10 internet users order their food delivery online, boosting the market's value to 500 million euros in 2020.

Supermarket online sales exceeded 100 million euros in 2020, more than double compared with 2019 (46.7 million euros), according to data by Convert Group. The survey showed that the basic advantage of online purchases is safety from the coronavirus (40 pct), followed by easy purchases (38 pct), speed (23 pct) and special offers (22 pct).