The Times Newspaper Owner Snaps Up Home Furnishings Etailer

Home furnishings website The Handpicked Collection has been acquired by the owner of The Times newspaper for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition by News UK comes after the media group said it discovered readers of the newspaper and its sister paper The Sunday Times made online non-food purchases at least once a week.

The site will be promoted to readers of the newspapers as a perk of subscription membership.

Chief executive of News UK Mike Darcey said in a statement: 'World-class journalism will always be at the heart of the News UK offering. But as part of our business development strategy we are eager to seek out opportunities to deliver added value to our loyal readers.'

He said that the 'quality of the goods offered by The Handpicked Collection are a natural fit for the audiences of The Times and The Sunday Times'.