Ocado has joined the British Retail Consortium as the trade body steps up its activity in e-commerce.

The online grocer said it was looking forward to benefiting from BRC’s lobbying work as well as its industry data and policy expertise.

“We’ve joined the BRC for its expertise in the policy areas that affect our business and for the wealth of information and contacts that it provides,” said Ocado CEO Tim Steiner.

For the BRC, having Ocado on board will help the trade association accelerate the development of its online agenda. “I’m pleased the company will benefit from, and be able to help us develop, our rapidly increasing activity around e-commerce and e-crime,” said BRC director general Stephen Robertson.

The BRC produces a quarterly online retail report in conjunction with Google that measures the growth of, and trends in, search terms.

It is also lobbying the EU about legislation on cookies and later this year, it will publish a report on the cost and impact of cyber crime.

Ocado has joined the British Retail Consortium as the trade body steps up its activity in e-commerce.