Safeway quits interactive TV trial : IN BRIEF

Safeway, the supermarket group, has pulled out of BT's interactive television trial due to start in Ipswich in the summer. Safeway was planning to offer a home delivery grocery service via the system, which allows customers to shop from home, using their TV and remote control pad. Safeway was reluctant to develop an expensive logistics system for a trial that may last only six months. BT will announce a launch date for the trial later this month as well as the names of other groups that will join.

WH Smith, Thomas Cook and NatWest Bank in offering services on the system.