Bermuda will next week have its first e-grocery store which will deliver to individual households on the Island.

Bermudagrocer.com is set to be launched on August 8, and already has its web page up and running with lists of items in store.

The on-line shop will offer most items sold in grocery stores which can be ordered by setting up an account and ordering through e-mail.

Delivery can be made either in the evening, during the day or on Saturday and there will be free deliveries for orders over $100. Any order less than this amount will be charged $10 per delivery.

Ralph Saints, Managing Director of Atlantic Imports, the company behind bermudagrocer.com, said he believed there was a real need for this kind of service in Bermuda.

He said: "It is not a new idea around the world, there are similar schemes in the US, Canada and the UK. But it is new to Bermuda.

"So far the feed back has been great. It appears that there is a need for a service like this on the Island. It is a huge market and we think it will work very well.'' The service will sell everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, to beer, wine and spirits, soft drinks, dry goods as well as household items.

In anticipation of the demand, Atlantic Imports has taken over a warehouse at Marginal Wharf in South Side to stock and store the goods.

New e-grocery store on Island Atlantic Imports was set up eight years ago as a fruit and vegetable importer.

Now the company has branched out and gone on the Internet.

Mr. Saints said: "It is the way forward. We have had a lot of interest from both private clients as well as from companies. Once we are up and running, we may expand further, but so far we are concentrating on the Internet.'' Deliveries to the East of Flatts will start on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 9pm. West of Flatts will be on Wednesday and Saturday from noon until 9pm.

Payment can only be made at the moment through debit cards such as EasyLink and credit cards such as Visa, but payment methods may change in the future.

While there is currently no 5 percent discount on Wednesdays, a special discount `platinum' scheme is available and gives 12 percent off all shopping.

"We have high hopes for the scheme,'' said Mr. Saints. "And we are looking forward to serving our customers.''