The concept is similar to catalogue-ordering services such as Argos, where goods are stocked in a warehouse ready for customers or delivery staff to collect.
The first virtual store will be trialled in Morley, near Leeds. Staff will pick items selected by online shoppers from a fully-stocked warehouse.
Asda has said the store will be like a supermarket without any customers. It is aiming to increase the reach of its home-shopping business, which currently can deliver to 94% of the UK.
The supermarket chain, owned by Wal-Mart, saw home shopping sales rise 50% in Q4 2008. It has also begun to relaunch its website and will be accept orders until 10pm for next-day deliveries.
It saw like-for-like sales rise from 7.2% in the last quarter of 2008.
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