Asda has further expanded its food-to-go offering by linking up with pan-Asian street food brand Panku.
Panku – which is Japanese for punk – will be trialled in 20 concessions in Asda stores over the next three months. They will sell products such as Katsu Curry, hand-rolled sushi, plant-based meals, Korean bulgogi and noodles.
The brand is owned by Taiko Foods, which part of the YO! Sushi Group. It was started by Neil Nugent, a former development chef for Iceland, Morrisons and Waitrose, and entrepreneur Andy Upton. It aims brings together favourite flavours of Pan-Asian food from Japan, Korea and Thailand.
The new offer is the latest trial to be introduced by Asda amid its plans replace all of its traditional in-store meat and fish counters with food-to-go offerings that tap into latest eating trends.
Last month, the group announced a partnership with Greggs and stated it would be working with a number of brands in 2020. These include Just Eat and KellyDeli brand Sushi Daily as the supermarket looks to provide food options that complement its existing range.
Richard Dent, Vice President for Fresh at Asda, said: “As well as ensuring we’ve got great prices for our customers and make their shopping experience with us as easy as possible, we’re also investing in growing areas of our business that we know customers are really passionate about. In areas such as ‘Food to Go’, we want to make sure we’re offering our customers a great combination of groceries and ready to eat options.
“Panku is a great fit – it’s an innovative brand offering great value and quality food, with a bit of personality. We’re really excited to be working with them.”
Upton added: “We want to offer something fresh and delicious, which supports a number of lifestyle choices and emerging food trends, such as veganism and gut health. Yes, you are going to see traditional things such as our crowd pleaser chicken katsu curry, but you will also see our sushi burritos which will put a smile on your face.”
Stores set to receive Panku concessions are: Aintree, Trafford Park, Harrogate, Killingbeck, Hounslow, Stevenage, Cardiff, Swindon Haydon, Cape Hill, Havant, Fareham, Totton, Eastgate, Sutton in Ashfield, Donnington Wood, Kingswood, Pudsey, Walton, Longwell Green, and Ashton.
NAM Implications:
- A pointer for all…
- …with a list of stores for monitoring first hand.
- All meaning a need for Asda to move quickly with any ideas that gain some traction…
- …the essence of retail.
