Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons says it has no plans to launch online shopping.

Britain’s fourth largest supermarket chain has categorically denied a national newspaper report that it was set to change its stance.

Morrisons has doggedly refused to join its main rivals Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys in offering home delivery of groceries ordered by computer.

A spokesman said the company was surprised at the claim that it was about to go online and quoting retail analysts who said it was inevitable.

Chief executive Marc Bolland has repeatedly said Morrisons had no plans to enter the online shopping market, emphasising that its saying that it is in-store offerings that are driving up sales.

The company revealed that like-for-like sales rose by 8.2 per cent, excluding fuel, in the quarter to May 3, keeping it at the front of the race for new customers.

Mr Bolland said it continued to win customers from its main rivals and from premium food stores. New customers, particularly in London and the South East where Morrisons is seeing its strongest growth, were often surprised at the range and quality of fresh produce available through its Market Street concept.

The group has attracted one million new shoppers in the past two years and growth is running ahead of the market.

Morrisons has a three year strategy, launched in 2007, to position itself as the UK’s ‘food specialist for everyone’ and its stores are central to its plans, with ranges taking account of local demand.

Morrisons, with 400 stores, is committed to expanding its network and aims to have supermarkets within a 15-minute drive of every UK household to make it a nationwide operation. It is rebranding and refurbishing 38 Somerfield outlets acquired from the Co-op.

In the 2008 report and accounts, Mr Bolland said: “We are emphasising our deep understanding of food through being closer to source than other retailers, through our unique manufacturing and packing facilities, through the amount of food preparation undertaken in our stores and through the employment of more specialist butchers, fishmongers and bakers than our competitors.

“We believe that the strategy has delivered strongly improved profit margins for shareholders, whilst also positioning the group for long-term growth.”