Safeway moots Internet service

NEWS

Safeway aims to join rivals Tesco and Sainsbury’s by launching a home shopping service on the Internet and is considering signing up to a new scheme operated by BT.

The retailer has fallen behind its two main competitors, which are both launching Internet services. Tesco has signed up with CompuServe and Sainsbury’s is on the BarclaySquare system which launched last week.

BT is planning to launch a new on-line service on the Internet, understood to be called BT Net, and says Safeway is looking at joining the scheme.

Last week, Safeway pulled out of BT’s nine-month interactive trials in Ipswich, scheduled to start in July.

A BT spokesman says: “Safeway has placed a higher priority on developing a multimedia

service using PCs. The logistics issues of grocery delivery means the company is looking to greater economies of scale than the 2,500-home Ipswich trial can provide.”

Safeway says: “We are seeking to expand our services and are exploring new technology. But we have no specific plans at the moment.”