Asda is set to open a record 110 Asda Express convenience stores this February, in a bid to reach its goal of 1,000 stores nationwide.
The supermarket giant has converted 109 former Co-op and EG Group convenience stores to Asda Express this month, with one additional organic opening.
The 110 stores in a month represent the most aggressive opening spree in its 58-year history.
The new sites will bring Asda to hit the landmark of 1,000 UK stores, as it attempts to deliver on its pledge to convert all 470 former Co-op and EG Group locations to Asda Express before the end of March.
The new openings, which follow the 259 sites Asda has already converted, come as part of a multi-million-pound investment by the supermarket in a bid to become the second largest grocery retailer in the UK.
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Asda’s expansion into the convenience and food-to-go sector is a key part of the grocer’s strategy since it was bought by the Issa brothers and TDR Capital in 2021.
The Express stores will stock up to 3,000 branded and own-label essential products and will be located in all areas of the UK, from the Isle of Skye in the Hebrides, to Plymouth in Devon.
Asda vice president of convenience Andy Perry said: “Asda’s significant investment in building a nationwide chain of convenience stores is a key component of our long-term strategy to become the number two player in UK grocery.
“February is a transformational month for the programme with a record number of store openings and conversion of all former Co-op sites to Asda Express sites.The teams have worked at pace to reach this point and we look forward to bringing Asda’s quality and low prices to many more communities across the UK.”
The new openings comes amid reports that Asda co-owner Zuber Issa is seeking to offload his Asda stake in a break away from his brother and fellow co-owner Mohsin Issa.
