Asda opened a record 81 new Express convenience stores in December as it pushes ahead with expansion plans to have 1,000 sites in 2024.
The conversions of its recent acquisition of Co-op and EG UK sites, alongside the opening of eight standalone Express stores brings the total number of convenience stores to 229 nationwide.
Another 254 ex-Co-op sites are due to be converted by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Asda is now on track to have 1,000 stores across the UK and Northern Ireland by March 2024, which would build the supermarket giant’s biggest estate in its 58-year history.
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The latest openings inlclude the grocer’s first convenience store in Manchester city centre and three new sites in Romford, Acton and Ealing as it plans to open a further 11 Express stores in London next year.
These sites stock up to 3,000 branded and own-label products including essential items such as bread and milk, as well as food for lunch on-the-go or dinner ingredients.
Asda managing director of convenience Andy Perry said: “It has been a Herculean effort by the teams involved in our Asda Express roll out to convert 81 stores in one month as part of our commitment to bringing Asda’s great value offer to even more communities.
“Expansion into the growing convenience market is a key pillar of our long-term strategy to become the UK’s second largest supermarket retailer – and we know how important Asda’s great value is to families managing cost-of-living pressures – especially in the run up to Christmas.”
