Co-op's online electrical venture

The largest independent retailer in East Anglia has branched out into selling electrical goods online.

The East of England Co-operative Society has begun to sell white goods, televisions and smaller electrical items such as cameras and Ipods, through its website and will offer free delivery.

Roger Grosvenor, group general manager (trading) for the East of England Co-op, said: "This is an exciting new venture for us, and in the short time it has been up and running is already proving successful.

It will provide added convenience to our customers and also give them the security of knowing they are dealing with their local Co-op.

"The online shopping site supplements our department and home stores and is aimed at providing customers with a simple, alternative way to buy their electrical and gas products from an organisation they know and trust."

Co-op members will qualify for a dividend on their purchases.

The website move comes after the East of England Co-op - which has 200 trading outlets across the region - announced an increase in its trading profit of 9.4pc in the 28 weeks to August 9 compared with the same period the year before - and a 6.3pc like-for-like increase in food retail.

19 November 2008