Anne Bruce
The top three supermarket groups in Scotland have declared war for market share as Asda catches up with Safeway and Tesco widens its lead at number one.
Asda became joint number two in Scotland last month according to Taylor Nelson Sofres, level pegging with former Scottish number one Safeway.
Latest TN Sofres figures based on all grocers' till rolls for the 52 weeks to July 21 show Tesco had upped its market share 0.3% from May 26, claiming a 23.6% Scottish market share. Safeway and Asda were level on 21.5%, Safeway having dropped 0.1%, and Asda up 0.2%.
Asda said it was set to become number one, through a £40m investment in Scotland in the next year, to extend its 1.4 million sq ft Scottish estate. It has already spent £35m opening its first Scottish Asda Wal-Mart supercentre in Livingston. The new 100,000 sq ft store will be followed by a second 90,000 sq ft supercentre in Brunstane, Edinburgh, opening in the next four months. Asda has also set aside £25m to extend its Chesser store in Edinburgh, subject to planning permission.
Asda retail md for Scotland Tony Page said: "Asda is committed to growing its share of the Scottish market."
He said 14 out of Asda's 34 other Scottish stores would be extended and refreshed in the next 12 months, as part of its ambition to get to number one.
But Asda's boasts were countered by joint Scottish number two, Safeway, toppled from top spot late last year.
Safeway communications director Kevin Hawkins said: "Neither Safeway nor Tesco will stand still, keeping Asda at number three."
He said Safeway would invest £70m£80m a year over the next two years reformatting its Scottish estate of 115 stores, totalling more than two million sq ft retail space.
Safeway also plans to resume its store opening programme next year, opening 10 to 12 stores a year nationwide, including one or two in Scotland, said Hawkins.
It has already opened a megastore at Anniesland, Glasgow and recently beefed up its Scottish trading team.
Scottish number one Tesco, has 75 Scottish stores equating to 1.8m sq ft retail space according to the IGD. It is also preparing for a blitz on Scotland, targeting brownfield sites and an entry into the Highlands.
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The top three supermarket groups in Scotland have declared war for market share as Asda catches up with Safeway and Tesco widens its lead at number one.
Asda became joint number two in Scotland last month according to Taylor Nelson Sofres, level pegging with former Scottish number one Safeway.
Latest TN Sofres figures based on all grocers' till rolls for the 52 weeks to July 21 show Tesco had upped its market share 0.3% from May 26, claiming a 23.6% Scottish market share. Safeway and Asda were level on 21.5%, Safeway having dropped 0.1%, and Asda up 0.2%.
Asda said it was set to become number one, through a £40m investment in Scotland in the next year, to extend its 1.4 million sq ft Scottish estate. It has already spent £35m opening its first Scottish Asda Wal-Mart supercentre in Livingston. The new 100,000 sq ft store will be followed by a second 90,000 sq ft supercentre in Brunstane, Edinburgh, opening in the next four months. Asda has also set aside £25m to extend its Chesser store in Edinburgh, subject to planning permission.
Asda retail md for Scotland Tony Page said: "Asda is committed to growing its share of the Scottish market."
He said 14 out of Asda's 34 other Scottish stores would be extended and refreshed in the next 12 months, as part of its ambition to get to number one.
But Asda's boasts were countered by joint Scottish number two, Safeway, toppled from top spot late last year.
Safeway communications director Kevin Hawkins said: "Neither Safeway nor Tesco will stand still, keeping Asda at number three."
He said Safeway would invest £70m£80m a year over the next two years reformatting its Scottish estate of 115 stores, totalling more than two million sq ft retail space.
Safeway also plans to resume its store opening programme next year, opening 10 to 12 stores a year nationwide, including one or two in Scotland, said Hawkins.
It has already opened a megastore at Anniesland, Glasgow and recently beefed up its Scottish trading team.
Scottish number one Tesco, has 75 Scottish stores equating to 1.8m sq ft retail space according to the IGD. It is also preparing for a blitz on Scotland, targeting brownfield sites and an entry into the Highlands.
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