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One thing that would lift the shares price significantly would be a new Ocado Solutions overseas deal. They've signed new deals roughly every year. The last one being with Aeon in Japan around a year ago. A new one may be due soon.

Positive movement on the Ocado v Autostore legal case would also give a boost to the share price.

I think organically Ocado will get back to the £29 level as they scale up their online delivery solutions overseas and the market further understands the profitable nature of Ocado's solution to a thorny problem for traditional store based grocers. It will most probably take some months for that to happen though.

Jimmy/Ed_win,

When you posted Jimmy the share was approx down 4% over the last 2 days. 3 days ago it went up around 5% on the day when most shares fell heavily. A decline of 4% I wouldn't call awful with the share having gone up that much the day before.

Re both of your points there are several things at play here. Yes there are more lockdowns but this doesn't come as a huge surprise to the market. Most would have been anticipating more lockdowns or a national lockdown given the virus numbers. There seems to be a little less fear over the new covid strains threat over the last 2 days. There was a lot of fear on Monday. Early in the pandemic Ocado would climb significantly as the virus took hold. There are several vaccines now though. They are proven and being distributed so there is an end point to this pandemic.

A change over the last 2 days has been a Brexit deal is looking more likely. There was a bit of doubt over the deal on Monday (the pound fell heavily) but it's increased over the last 2 days as both parties have been talking up the chances of a deal. Ocado isn't very exposed to a Brexit no deal as going forward 2/3 years the majority of their earnings will be from outside the UK. Consequently Ocado shares do not rise as much as others on good Brexit deal news. IAG is extremely exposed to Brexit, a no deal would cause it to plummet. Ocado would drop but not as much as others.

Ocado retail currently has limited capacity this year due to warehouse constraints so though there are more lockdowns in the UK there is a limit this year as to how much they can deliver. Next year there are several developments that will increase capacity but it's more towards mid to end of 2021.

Ocado's had an incredible year. Some may be cashing in before year end. The story though for Ocado is intact and next year is one full of expansion and growth.

It's just an obvious point. This new strain means more people will want home delivered food. It's driving the share price up today.

You would be extraordinarily naive to think the move wasn't driven by the rampant new strain of Covid in the UK...

Let's see. It's far from a political gesture though...

Nothing nasty. Just observing how the enduring pandemic will impact Ocado. Ocado are doing an incredible job delivering food to the nation in these dark times. Many rely on home deliveries as they cannot shop in store.

"The over reaction by the French is political" is your comment not mine.

Of course the rapidly spreading new strain of covid and the Dover port closure has everything to do with MKS.

"The over reaction by the French is political" is your comment not mine.

The share price move today says it all.

Lots of strength in a plummeting overall market.

Now amended to correct chat thread...

"The over reaction by the French is political"

Were the French government to admit they have a rampant new strain of Covid greatly driving up Covid cases I know for sure that the UK would close borders. Countless other countries have now cut air links with the UK.

This new strain of Covid threatens a new dark phase of the pandemic.

No. Given his experience, qualifications and AI expertise he looks like a great fit to take Ocado forward.

"The over reaction by the French is political"

Were the French government to admit they have a rampant new strain of Covid greatly driving up Covid cases I know for sure that the UK would close borders. Countless other countries have now cut air links with the UK.

This new strain of Covid threatens a new dark phase of the pandemic.

The new chairman appointment is extremely astute.

The growth of the overall online grocery market has always been the main driver to Ocado shares. There are lots of unknowns now as a result of the new Covid strain. This pandemic is far from over. The new strain will spread in other countries. Consumers will be keener than ever to shop online for groceries.

I'd go for end of day to be at 145p. Almost a global air travel ban on the UK occuring now.

There must be thousands and thousands of people amending their Christmas Ocado baskets currently..... Overall Ocado will still be at full capacity. Any abandoned delivery slots will be snapped up quickly.

Awful news with this new strain of Covid in our midst. It will however further grow the online grocery shopping market

Best Christmas wishes to all.

Moving on from the absorbing Mayfair family, cafe and food delivery chat...

Ocado have a new chairman. Seems like a high calibre, entrepreneurial appointment. Well suited to the times that lay ahead..

Appointment of Chairman Designate

Ocado Group plc ("Ocado Group" or the "Company"), the pioneer of online grocery, today announces that it intends to appoint Richard ("Rick") Haythornthwaite as independent non-executive Chairman of the Board at its AGM in May 2021 to replace Stuart Rose, who will be retiring from the role after eight years of service.

Rick, who will join the Board as an independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2021 before assuming the Chairman's role after Ocado's AGM in May, brings a wealth of relevant experience as chairman, non-executive director, and CEO of a wide range of companies. He is currently Chairman of Mastercard Inc., which he joined just before the IPO of the company in 2006, and he will retire from this position at the end of the year. Rick is also the chairman and co-founder of QiO Technologies Ltd, an advanced analytics and AI software company. He has previously served as CEO of listed companies Invensys plc and Blue Circle Industries plc. His other senior board appointments have included Cookson Group plc, Lafarge SA, Imperial Chemical Industries plc, Land Securities plc, Network Rail Limited, Better Regulation Commission and Centrica plc.

Lord Rose will remain Chairman of the Board to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities to Rick in May. Rick will be a member of the Nomination Committee and will chair that committee after Lord Rose's retirement.

Tim Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado Group, said:

"As Chairman, Stuart has overseen the transformation of the business from a UK-focused FTSE 250 online grocer to a FTSE-100 global technology company. His guidance, counsel and strategic vision have been invaluable to the Board, and to me personally, as we have grown the business in a sustainable way to the benefit of all our stakeholders. His legacy will endure for many years to come. At the same time, I am delighted to welcome Rick as our new Chairman. He has substantial experience of leading and chairing a range of high profile industrial and technology companies. He will play a key role helping us to navigate a post-COVID future in which the landscape of the grocery market worldwide is changing for good and, using his experience at Mastercard, to help us scale up and take advantage of the very significant global opportunities ahead."

Thanks. Yes, something around that should evolve in time

Interesting comment chilting. Will that happen? Tell me your thoughts.. Ocado retail carries about double the lines of other online grocery companies (Tesco, Asda etc). They have this amount as they run their operations from huge distribution centres.

You are suggesting they would deliver individual orders to MKS stores for click and collect. Seems that it be more beneficial to deliver direct to the customer. There'd be reduced delivery fees true. Click and collect seems to work best though when items are picked from the store shelves ready for customer collection. It would relieve Ocado of the need to deliver in the small vans though.

There will be many house gatherings at Christmas and new year. Great time to have food to order on home delivery as in general most cannot gather inside anywhere other than their home.