Asda has issued an update on product availability, online capacity and Covid safety measures in its stores following the introduction of the new lockdown measures across the UK.
The supermarket said it currently has strong product availability across its stores and depots but urged customers “to shop considerately and not buy more than they normally would”.
The statement follows reports yesterday that some supermarkets were struggling to keep shelves stocked amidst a surge in demand for some essentials.
Meanwhile, Asda said it will be helping those shielding or otherwise unable to visit stores by ramping up its online capacity and doubling the size of its delivery partnership with Uber Eats over the coming weeks.
Asda has increased its grocery home shopping capacity by 90% since last March to 850k weekly slots at present and expects this to rise to 900k slots per week by the start of April. Meanwhile, the rapid delivery service with Uber Eats will be available from 200 stores from February.
Asda also announced that it would be doubling the hours that its Covid Safety Marshals will be on duty at the front of its stores, whilst ramping social distancing measures and increasing the cleaning of baskets and trolleys.
Chief Executive Roger Burnley said: “As COVID restrictions are tightened across the UK to protect our health, we will continue to do all we can to keep colleagues and customers safe in store as we have since the start of the pandemic.
“Our stores and distribution centres have proved to be highly resilient to the challenges of a national lockdown and we are confident that we can continue to deliver choice and value for customers in the weeks ahead.”
NAM Implications:
- Easy to say, difficult to prevent…
- Especially given the latest government moves.
- Meanwhile, the combination of instore deterrents (marshalls, queues, distancing)…
- …and extra delivery capacity…
- …has to be a massive incentive to shop online.
- Permanently?
