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Tesco pips Safeway to online first

By John Oates

Published: 21 January 1999 18:13 GMT

UK supermarket chain, Tesco launched its barcode-based online shopping trial today, beating arch-rival Safeway by 10 days.

Like Safeway, the Tesco system uses a handheld device with a scanner. Shoppers select the products they want and then download via a phone line. The goods are delivered to the customer's home for a £5 charge.

The Tesco system, based on software from Unipower, can only be accessed from a PC. In contrast, Safeway's Java-based offering also works on mobile devices including PalmPilots from IBM.

If the trial at its Sudbury store is successful, Tesco is planning to launch nationwide.

For more information watch Silicon.com's Retail Channel interview with Mike Winch, IT director at Safeway.

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