Food Network grows e-commerce business

NEW YORK Food Network is partnering with Cooking.com to expand its e-commerce business with a new online store, FoodNetworkStore.com. According to the companies, the site, which launches on Oct. 1, will increase Food Network's product offerings from 1,000 to 20,000. Cooking.com will provide customer service support and fulfillment for the online orders, as well as operations for the Web site.

``We know Food Network viewers enjoy buying products related to the network, and our goal is to establish the FoodNetworkStore.com as the place to go for all kitchenware products,'' said Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of Food Network. ``Partnering with Cooking.com allows us to expand our product assortment exponentially and build a site that allows viewers to quickly and easily purchase the products they see our chefs using on-air all with an exceptional level of customer service."

The expanded e-commerce site will allow the Food Network to better leverage its brand, the companies said, and enable more connections between the Food Network Web site and Television station.