Asda has announced that it plans to open around 230 convenience stores at petrol stations operated by its new owners, the Issa brothers and TDR Capital.
The new ‘Asda On the Move’ format has been trialled at five EG Group forecourt sites since last October. Their launch marked the supermarket group’s first concerted push into the convenience channel.
Following speculation at the end of last month, the retailer confirmed that a further 28 Asda On the Move stores are now planned to open this year, with up to 200 sites next year and more in 2023. Asda will supply the products on a wholesale agreement to EG Group, which will own and operate each site.
Each store will be up to 3,000 sq. ft. in size and stock up to 2,500 products, including a selection of Asda’s ‘Extra Special’ range and a more extensive range of fresh produce and chilled lines than is traditionally found on forecourts. They will also include foodservice offerings from EG Group and their partner brands such as Greggs and Subway.
In a joint statement, Mohsin and Zuber Issa said: “Our plans to rollout Asda On the Move will bring Asda to new customers, enabling them to pick up food-to-go, essentials for an evening meal, or treat themselves to premium Extra Special products from a range of convenient locations.”
They added: “We continue to see significant opportunities to drive innovation across the business and we look forward to working with the Asda team to execute our growth strategy.”
NAM Implications:
- Suppliers with offering-matches have had almost a year to prepare…
- …and will obviously optimise this roll-out.
- While proactive NAMs are already planning for national coverage…
- …and why not, given ownership uncertainties with other mults?
