Fresca, the e-commerce service provider that works with more than 20 UK retailers, has been bought by BT.

Fresca provides the managed and hosted e-commerce platform that many high street retailers operate their web sites on. Its customers include Thomas Pink, Habitat, Phase Eight, Whistles, Harvey Nichols and Mosaic Fashions.

Mosaic Fashions group IT director John Bovill endorsed the deal. He said: “We have worked with both companies for several years because jointly they provide the solutions for our entire multichannel supply chain systems, from sourcing to store and online. We look forward to working closely with them as we continue to strengthen our multichannel capability.”

BT said that the acquisition will allow it to offer a comprehensive e-commerce platform through its retail solutions division BT Expedite.

It added that Fresca’s expertise and complementary technologies will provide BT Expedite with the platform to deliver an integrated multichannel shopping experience to retailers and customers.