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LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - British online grocer Ocado on Tuesday reiterated its target of signing a firstagreement with an overseas retailer during 2015, as it reportedan 11.4 percent rise in first half core earnings.
Ocado signed its first third-party deal with Britain'sfourth biggest supermarket Morrisons in 2013. Thathelped the firm to report in February a pretax profit for the2013-14 year, the first in its 15-year history. It also said atthe time it aimed this year to seal its first technology dealwith an overseas retailer.
"Discussions continue with multiple potential internationalpartners to adopt Ocado Smart Platform with (a) target to sign(a) first agreement in 2015," the firm said on Tuesday.
For the 24 weeks to May 17, the firm said that it madeearnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation(EBITDA) of 38.2 million pounds ($60 million).
That compared with analyst forecasts of about 36 millionpounds and is up from 34.3 million pounds made in the sameperiod last year.
Ocado, whose range includes products supplied by upmarketgrocer Waitrose, said gross retail sales rose 15.7percent to 511.9 million pounds, having been up 15.2 percent inits first quarter.
Ocado shares, which have had a rollercoaster ride since theydebuted at 180 pence apiece in 2010, closed Monday at 430 pence,valuing the business at 2.53 billion pounds.
The stock has risen 30 percent over the last three months onhopes an international deal will soon be announced.
"The channel shift towards online grocery shopping continuedduring the period, with the broader grocery market remainingcharacterised by intense price competition and deflationarypressures," said Chief Executive Tim Steiner.($1 = 0.6361 pounds) (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young)
