Procter & Gamble, the world's biggest consumer goods company, has taken a stake in retailing minnow Ocado in the online grocer's latest fundraising round.

The Cincinnati-based consumer goods company has spent £5m buying up just 1 per cent of the retailer in a wider fundraising of £18m, according to a Companies House filing. It is the first time that the maker of Fairy Liquid and Oil of Olay has taken an investment in a retail business.