Bradford mail-order giant Grattan is to create 350 jobs as it teams up with supermarket chain Tesco to develop a world-beating series of lifestyle catalogues.

The firm, which already employs a total of 5,000 workers, is the first in the world to join forces with a major food retailer to produce this type of home-shopping catalogue.

And if it takes off, Grattan chief executive Steve Bullas says more jobs could be created.

Grattan, which is part of German company Otto Versand, will be producing a series of catalogues called Tesco Direct from next March, starting with one called Baby and Toddler.

The catalogues will be available to Tesco customers in stores but is being aimed at Tesco's 10 million Clubcard members.

The joint venture is a stand-alone company which will have its headquarters in Bradford with a staff of 25 and take on warehousing, call centre and administration staff over the next few months.

Directors of Otto Versand are hoping that the new business will take off so it can be repeated in other parts of its business throughout the world.

Grattan is already Bradford's largest private employer and is looking to grow even further through joint ventures such as this.

Steve Bullas added: "Developing a strategic alliance with a major high-street brand has been one of our top priorities for some time. Tesco Direct is the result.

"Grattan has the infrastructure to do what Tesco wants us to do.

"While the new organisation will draw on both Grattan and Tesco expertise and resources, Tesco Direct will be run as a separate commercial entity from both partners' operations."

Tesco marketing director Tim Mason said: "We see a good future for home shopping and are delighted to be exploring this with Grattan."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.