Heiton Holdings, the builders providers and DIY group, is expected to announce the launch of an e-commerce development today. It will involve an Internet website for Atlantic Homecare, according to informed sources.

The development will cost around £1 million (€1.27 million), the sources said. Heiton, when it first announced Internet plans, said it would be the first homecare DIY store in Europe to be trading online. The initial plan is to sell a range of selected products and this is designed to enable Atlantic Homecare - its DIY subsidiary - to reach new consumers. There will be a minimum delivery charge.

Heiton recorded sales of €31.3 million (£24.6 million) in its homecare DIY stores in its last financial results. This represented 9.8 per cent of the total. It is the second biggest division, but is much smaller than merchanting which generates €189.6 million in the State and Northern Ireland.