Asda is opening 32 standalone ‘Asda Express’ convenience stores over the coming year as a key element of its strategic vision to become the UK’s second-largest supermarket.
The first two new Asda Express stores will be launching before Christmas, at Sutton Coldfield on 8 November and Tottenham Hale, London, on 6 December, creating 37 new jobs in their local communities.
The wider launch – which will create around 500 new roles – forms part of a ‘test & learn’ approach to developing the supermarket’s convenience model.
According to IGD, convenience store sales are forecast to grow by 13% to over £50bn by 2027, giving Asda a “significant opportunity” to grow sales and market share in the sector.
Mohsin Issa, Asda’s co-owner, said: “The launch of our first two Asda Express convenience stores is a landmark moment for our great business and a key step on our journey to bring Asda to more customers in more communities right across the UK.
“The stores have been designed to cater for a broad range of customer needs – whether that’s popping in for a pint of milk, grabbing a spot of lunch on the go, or buying the fresh ingredients to cook dinner from scratch.
“We’re confident customers will find everything they need in these stores and enjoy the convenience of having a new type of Asda store on their doorstep.”
The purpose-built Asda Express stores are situated in residential areas and will stock around 3,000 products, including a comprehensive range of fresh, ambient and chilled groceries as well as a range of hot and cold ‘food for now’ options from Asda and partner brands such as Leon.
Both stores will also offer ‘toyou’ parcel collection and return services, with an Uber Eats rapid delivery service following soon after launch.
The new Asda Express stores are wholly owned and operated by Asda and remain separate from Asda On the Move convenience sites, which are located on garage forecourts owned and operated by EG Group.
They are also separate from the 132 convenience stores that Asda is acquiring from the Co-op Group. This transaction is expected to complete at the end of this month and will be subject to the CMA’s competition review process.
