Published reports

OCADO OPERATING LIMITED

Company number: 09047186

This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.

Reporting period:

1 December 2025 to 29 November 2026

Report filed on:

29 June 2026

Approved by:

Stephen Daintith, Jo Walker


Contracts and payments

Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes

Payment statistics

Average time taken to pay invoices: 31 days

Total value paid:

  • within 30 days: £117,353,452  (72%)
  • in 31 to 60 days: £39,657,496  (24%)
  • in 61 days or more: £5,441,145  (3%)

Invoices paid:

  • within 30 days: 73%
  • in 31 to 60 days: 24%
  • in 61 days or more: 3%

Late and disputed:

  • total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £1,177,189
  • payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 12%
  • not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 1%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

0 days

Longest standard payment period

60 days

Standard payment terms

Standard payment terms are 30 days after the end of the month from the invoice date

Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?

No

Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?

N/A

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

60 days

No further comment provided

Any other information about payment terms

No further comment provided

Retention clauses

How does this business use retention clauses?

Retention clauses are included in standard payment terms.

Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?

No

Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?

Yes: 10%

Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?

Yes:

The projects we carry out are for use by entities that Ocado Group owns outright or has an interest in so there is no retention sum applied against the Ocado Operating Limited

Releasing money under a retention clause

Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause

The first half of retention (5%) is released upon the Engineer certifying Hand-Over of the works, and the second half of retention (5%) is released upon certification that the 24-month Defects Liability Period is complete.

Is the money released in stages?

Yes:

First half of retention (5%): certification of Hand-Over of the works

Second half of retention (5%): certification of completion of the Defects Liability Period (second half of retention).

Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period

Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients

0%

Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business

10%

Dispute resolution process

If at any time any question, dispute or difference arises between OCADO OPERATING LIMITED and its suppliers, Finance will take the correct measures to ensure that these are investigated and resolved in the quickest time possible to avoid disruption in supply. All escalations are directed to the Accounts Payable Manager and after this to the Head of Finance Operations where these are investigated and resolved.

Other payment information

Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?

For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.

No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.

Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?

This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.

Yes

Does this business offer supply chain finance?

This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.

No

Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No

During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No