Britain's Ocado Retail sees sales rise but customers buy less per order

LONDON (Reuters) - British online supermarket Ocado Retail reported a rise in quarterly sales and in the run-up to Christmas, though an increase in customer numbers was partially offset by fewer items being purchased per order.

The business, a 50:50 joint venture between Ocado Group and Marks & Spencer, said on Tuesday fourth quarter to Nov. 27 sales rose 0.3% and were up 15% over the five days before Christmas.

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kate Holton)