Online shopping received a big boost after Britain's third biggest supermarket chain Asda announced it is to spearhead a new Internet alliance.
Asda has joined up with Internet giant AOL Europe and UK shopping portal ShopSmart.com to target online shoppers.
Under the agreement, Asda, which is owned by the world's biggest retailer Wal-Mart, will distribute AOL's Internet access disk in its 240 UK stores and the two companies will promote the price checker service run by ShopSmart.
ShopSmart.com is the UK's number three retail website after amazon.com and amazon.co.uk sites.
Asda and Wal-Mart Europe chief executive and president Alan Leighton said: From 'bricks to clicks' this deal brings together three companies passionate about building their businesses through an obsession with the needs of their customers.
As part of the deal Asda will become the preferred food and drink retailer on AOL's shopping and lifestyle channels and will offer special online promotions.
AOL and Asda will jointly take a 22.5 per cent stake in ShopSmart.com, receiving permanent exposure in Asda and Wal-Mart stores in return.
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