Amazon has launched its own internet grocery store in a bid to rival the delivery services of major supermarkets.

The online retailer well known for its cut-price books and electrical goods is aiming to compete with superstores such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's by offering customers a range of 22,000 household items. But do we need another online grocery store and is Amazon offering us anything new?

The Amazon grocery store, which launched last week, will sell leading brands including Pampers, Ariel, Uncle Ben's, Dolmio, Kraft, Schwartz, Kenco, Carte Noir, Walkers and Oreo, as well as Bakers and Purina One pet foods. Amazon will also offer ethnic and international products that can be difficult to track down elsewhere, as well as specialist items from niche ranges such as organic, vegan and kosher.

Online sales of groceries are booming in Britain and, although they account for only a small percentage of the overall market, grocery specialists IGD forecast they will almost double to 7.2 billion pounds ($10.9 billion) by 2014.

While the move by Amazon could be blow for struggling Ocado, the online supermarket which sells Waitrose and John Lewis-branded products, it is unlikely to pose an immediate threat to the big supermarket delivery services.

This is because Amazon will not offer the one or two-hour delivery time slots provided by its supermarket rivals, and who wants to wait in all day for their groceries?

Also, an undisclosed number of the products will be provided by third-party members of its Amazon Marketplace, which will be delivered separately – another inconvenience for customers.

James Leeson, director of grocery at Amazon.co.uk Ltd said: "Amazon.co.uk's aim is to be the place where customers can find and discover any product they want to buy online.

"With unlimited virtual shelf space, customers can choose from a wide variety of products, all of which benefit from free delivery. We will work tirelessly to increase the selection of grocery items available to be delivered directly to customers' doors."

Customers can pay a £49 annual membership fee for unlimited one-day delivery or choose from Amazon's standard range of delivery options, including its Free Super Saver Delivery option.

So, will you shop at Amazon for groceries? I don't plan to for my main shop as the non-specified delivery time seriously puts me off, but may take a look if I'm trying to track down an exotic ingredient I can't find in the supermarket.