Wal-Mart has agreed a deal to buy Kosmix, a social-media specialist.
Kosmix will be integrated into the group as part of ?WalmartLabs, a team that will be expanded as the supermarket operator tries to synthesise customers' bricks-and-mortar and online shopping experiences.
Eduardo Castro-Wright, Wal-Mart's vice-chairman, advised: 'Social networking and mobile applications are increasingly becoming a part of our customers' day-to-day lives globally, influencing how they think about shopping, both online and in retail stores.'
Anand Rajaraman, one of Kosmix's co-founders, said: 'We are thrilled to join one of the world's largest companies and combine our work with Wal-Mart's vast online and offline retail businesses.'
