Asda has revealed that it will be adding a host of new convenience stores to its estate by the end of this month, with five sites opening today.
The retailer is currently in the process of converting the forecourt convenience stores it acquired from the Co-op and EG Group to its Express brand, with it also opening standalone outlets.
The 21 stores set to open by the end of January are on top of 17 stores that have already opened this month in locations such as Southampton, Cardiff and Clapham.
Five Express stores opened today in Holmes Chapel, Derby, Sandford, Sandy and Hornchurch. They will be followed by new sites in Heywood, Evesham, Fareham, Crouch End, Crawley, Corsham, Dagenham, Rhuddlan, Horsham, Denham, Stoke-on-Trent, Clydebank, Haslemere, Poole, and Leicester over the next 12 days.
The newly converted Asda Express stores stock up to 3,000 branded and own-label products, including essential items such as milk and bread, as well as lunch on the go and dinner options.
Andy Perry, Asda’s VP of Convenience, said: “After pausing our convenience rollout during the festive period, the programme is now in full swing once more. We have exciting plans to accelerate the programme over the next couple of months with the aim of converting all 470 stores acquired from the Co-op and EG Group to Asda Express before the end of Q1.”
Addressing Asda’s gap in the growing convenience market has been a key pillar of the retailer’s strategy since its acquisition by the Issa brothers and TDR Capital, with its long-term strategy to become the UK’s second-largest grocery retailer.
NAM Implications:
- Asda continues to move fast in convenience.
- The key for suppliers is to keep pace.
- Your call…
