It may have banned its staff from using it, but Asda is preparing to make full use of social networking website Facebook as part of its marketing mix, we can reveal.

Asda plans to set up a page for its development chef, Neil Nugent, who will tell customers visiting the site about NPD. "Our marketing department has been looking at how we could use sites such as Facebook to interact with customers," said a spokeswoman.

Last week we reported how Asda, along with Tesco and Sainsbury's, had blocked the site at its offices to prevent staff accessing it.

Bogof p86