Online shopping links with magazines

An online retailer backed by the former Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose has teamed up with the owner of Cosmopolitan magazine to launch new shopping websites.

Hut Group and Hearst Magazines UK will launch magazine-branded online shopping sites that will sell products selected by the editors.

The websites will begin to go live this week, with Men's Health one of the first to launch. Cosmopolitan and Elle websites will be added through the spring.

Arnaud de Puyfontaine, the chief executive at Hearst Magazines UK, said: "This is part of Hearst Magazines UK's strategy to propel its digital agenda and develop new ways for its magazine brands to connect with audiences."

Hut Group operates 16 websites and recently raised fresh capital to expand. Hearst already runs websites for all its magazine brands.