Asda plans to create around 500 jobs as it rolls out ‘Asda Express’ convenience stores across UK

The Leeds-based supermarket chain has announced plans to open its first two convenience stores before Christmas.

Operating under a new ‘Asda Express’ brand, the company said the new stores aimed to bring “Asda value and great products” to more communities across the UK.

The Asda Express stores will open at Sutton Coldfield in November and Tottenham Hale in London, in December, creating 37 jobs.

In a statement, Asda said: “Asda plans to launch a further 30 sites, creating about 500 new roles, next year, as part of a ‘test and learn’ approach to developing its convenience model, a key element of Asda’s strategic vision to become the UK’s second largest supermarket.

“With sales in convenience stores forecast to grow by 13 per cent to more than £50bn by 2027, Asda has a significant opportunity to grow sales and market share in a sector where it currently has a limited presence.”

“Both Asda Express stores are purpose built and situated in residential areas giving customers the opportunity to shop in convenient neighbourhood locations.”

Each store will stock around 3,000 products, including a range of fresh,and chilled groceries, as well as products from Asda’s premium Extra Special range and a broad selection of beers, wines and spirits.

The statement added: “Customers will also enjoy a range of hot and cold ‘food for now’ options from Asda and partner brands including Leon, plus ‘food for later’ choices such as ready meals and a selection of £10 meal deals for two people. Both stores will also offer ‘toyou’ parcel collection and return services and shortly after opening will offer a rapid delivery service through Uber Eats.”

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.

“I’m delighted to welcome the new colleagues at Sutton Coldfield and Tottenham Hale to the Asda family, leading us on our first steps into this market and I am grateful to all the colleagues who have worked with such pace and enthusiasm to bring this vision to life for Asda.”

The new Asda Express stores are wholly owned and operated by Asda. They are separate from the 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 then go through the Competition and Markets Authority’s competition review process, Asda said in a statement.