Days on from agreeing a deal to buy the Co-op’s 132-strong forecourt estate, Asda has opened its 50th roadside convenience store.
The Asda On The Move store on the Pride Park retail estate in Derby will be joined by a further four sites opening this week in Bangor-North Wales, Leicester, Stoke, and Stourport-on-Severn.
The convenience stores, which are operated in partnership with the EG Group, offer over 1,300 branded and Asda own-label products, alongside EG-owned food-to-go brands and franchise partners such as Starbucks, Greggs, Subway, and Cinnabon.
Asda moved into the convenience channel 18 months ago with the launch of its first On the Move site. It is planning to open over 200 of the stores on EG forecourts, whilst the £600m deal with the Co-op also accelerates its push into the channel.
“We are delighted to have reached the landmark opening of our 50th Asda On The Move store,” Steve Shirley, Vice President of Wholesale and Convenience at Asda.
“The popularity of these stores shows us that customers want to be able to pick up essentials quickly and conveniently or grab a spontaneous treat whilst they’re refuelling, and we look forward to continuing to provide that service to our customers in the future.”
Ilyas Malji, Country Manager – UK, PFS at EG Group, added: “Our team continues to work closely with various Asda functions to identify a good development pipeline of new stores and refine the convenience retail provision along with associated processes and procedures.
“I am pleased to share we have now established a solid platform and will be looking to accelerate this growth in the coming year and build on this 50-store milestone.”
NAM Implications:
- The model patently works for Asda.
- And the Co-op acquisition will add momentum.
- And providing the debt can (and be part of it) be managed…
- …anticipate a fast roll-out.
