Web-based sales continue on a tear at Office Depot

Web-based sales at Office Depot Inc. reached $2.1 billion last year, up 34% over the prior year’s $1.5 billion, the company reported today. Total sales amounted to $11.4 billion, up 2% from the year before. Web sales accounted for 18.4% of Office Depot’s total sales, up from 13.4% the year earlier.

Fourth quarter e-commerce sales grew 28% to $553 million from Q4 a year earlier, when total sales grew 2% to $2.8 billion. Comparable stores sales for the year and the quarter were flat.

Operating profit for the year increased 41% from 2001 to $499.7 million.

Office Depot also announced today that it will launch its first retail stores in Spain in April, supported by a web site branded by its subsidiary, www.vikingdirect.es.

Office Depot sells products and services in 20 countries outside of the United States and Canada.