Coles is testing its first online-only store in inner-city Melbourne as it pushes to drive volume in online sales, according to a Fairfax Media report.

Coles boss John Durkan said the chain plans to launch one or two more of these so-called “dark stores”, which have a dedicated team picking stock for online orders.

Durkan said the idea is to test if Coles could become more efficient handling online orders by working this way and not interrupting store staff with workers picking stock off the shelves for online customers.

The plan, announced during a presentation at Coles owner Wesfarmers’ strategy briefing day, comes almost two years after rival Woolworths opened its first dedicated online store in Sydney’s Mascot in August 2014.