Asian foods retailer Sira Supermarket is to launch an online ordering and delivery service across the UK within the next few weeks.

MD Sukh Sira said a two-month trial would begin next month at its base in Southall, west London, to test the systems. The service would then be formally launched on the retailer’s website www.siras.co.uk.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Sira. “It will uplift sales a little but it is to reach customers who aren’t able to get to Southall. We already get a lot of enquiries from villages where people can’t get the products we sell.”

Some customers travelled from as far as Southampton to stock up, he claimed.

The delivery charge would be no more than £5, he insisted, although he admitted the company had still to appoint a courier to handle deliveries. The service would be an extension of existing arrangements, where local customers could phone in orders and have them delivered by staff.

“I always wanted to do online, but we didn’t have the time or the resources when I joined the family business,” said Sira.

The retailer opened its second store in 2006. The 35,000 sq ft store stocks a range of groceries including speciality Asian food and has recently branched out into Polish and eastern European foods.

The business is expanding into clothing and electricals this year and is building a café.