There was further bad news for beleagured British electrical retailers today, when it emerged that French retail giant Casino is entering the UK internet market.

Casino plans to launch its electricals-led Cdiscount.com with cut-price goods offered at between 20% and 50% off compared to those stocked by existing UK e-tailers, according to the trade magazine Retail Week.

That will heap the pressure on the Dixons and Currys group DSGi and the Comet group Kesa which have both admitted to being under pressure in the UK consumer downturn.

The entry of Casino into the UK comes hot on the heels of the arrival of the American discount electricals giant BestBuy which has big expansion plans after initially linking up with Carphone Warehouse.

The Casino launch is understood to be headed by former Dixons and Tesco executive Andy Jones.

Cdiscount may also take on the internet offerings of the top UK supermarkets as it is believed the internet operation will aim to bolt on financial services.

Casino hopes to replicate its success in its home market.

It claims one-in-three French internet shoppers are regulars with Cdiscount.com and that its web-revenues and are more than twice that of the French arm of cyberspace giant Amazon.

Cdiscount.com was originaly started in France by three brothers a decade ago who have since sold a stake of nearly 80% in the business
to Casino.