Sainsbury’s is launching an Argos click and collect service in dozens of its Local convenience stores.

The service will allow customers to pick up Argos and Tu orders from more than 100 Sainsbury’s Local stores by the end of 2017.

Sainsbury’s chief exeucitve Mike Coupe said: “More customers than ever are ordering online and choosing to collect from a store, which makes their lives easier and frees up their valuable time. Offering the Argos Click & Collect service in Sainsbury’s Local stores makes it even more convenient for our customers to buy our products.

“Argos’ leading digital capability is an important differentiator for Sainsbury’s and is key to our future strategy. Over half of all Argos sales originate online and around 80 per cent of customers then opt to collect their purchases from one of our stores, that day or the next.”

The initiative marks a year since Sainsbury’s acquired the Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Habitat. The launch of the new click and collect service follows a three-month trial in six Sainsbury’s Local stores.

Fujitsu head of commercial sector, Rupal Karia, said the move was a “smart one”.

He added: “Today’s consumers crave convenience above all things. Click and collect delivers just that, by merging online and physical channels together to enable consumers to fit shopping into their daily routines.

“Across the board, all retailers should look to introduce the latest services in-store, to give consumers as many options as possible for making purchases.

“It’s clear that convenience is a key consideration for shoppers today, and retailers must find new ways to offer it, or face being pushed out of the high street.”