ASDA Property Website Canned

In January this year we reported on an initiative by UK supermarket chain ASDA to bring real estate in store and online through Homes in Asda, known online as homesinstore.co.uk. Now it seems that the bubble has burst, with the website being shut down.

The Negotiator reports that Tom Rossiter, owner of homesinstore.co.uk, the firm behind the supermarket’s portal, has walked away from the deal after the supermarket chain controversially changed its strategy by revealing it would be cutting estate agents out of the equation earlier this year.

However, The Negotiator also quote ASDA sources as disputing this version of events, saying:

“We have amicably agreed to terminate HomesinASDA, the property service trialled across a number of stores and online in the North East and South East. We have tried very hard to make it work, but the current climate has made it very difficult to continue.”

While ASDA is is thought to be looking at some alternative options, Rossiter is believed to be in talks with third parties about a replacement partner.

Rival supermarket chain Tesco are still going ahead with their plans to sell the ill-fated Tesco Property Market online agency to to Spicerhaart, while retaining the rights to market the service exclusively on its website.

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