Walmart has joined forces with ecommerce platform Shopify in a bid to broaden its marketplace proposition and capitalise on a surge in online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the terms of the deal, businesses that sell through Shopify will be able to use their existing accounts to apply to sell on Walmart Marketplace as well.

Walmart said it expects to add 1,200 Shopify vendors to its marketplace website by the end of 2020 as a result. Walmart Marketplace already offers items from more than one million businesses.

Walmart’s ecommerce sales surged 74% in its domestic US market during the three months to March 31 and it said marketplace sales “outpaced the overall business”.

It said the combination with Shopify would “offer customers an expanded assortment while also giving small businesses access to the surging traffic on Walmart.com”.

Walmart added: “Growing our marketplace is a strategic priority and we are going to be smart as we grow. We will start integrating new sellers now and expect to add 1,200 Shopify sellers this year.

“Shopify has a long history of helping small businesses leverage scale, and we’re proud to be part of the solution that is helping customers and other retailers.”

The move marks the latest digital salvo from Walmart in its war with online rival Amazon.

The US titan has already ramped up its online grocery pick-up proposition, built a string of partnerships with third-party brands like Levi’s and acquired Jet.com in a $3bn (£2.4bn) deal back in 2016.

Although it has since closed the standalone Jet website, it has integrated its tech talent and expertise into the existing Walmart business as it beefs up its ecommerce offer.