Asda has announced a £400m expansion programme focused on extending existing stores.
ASDA Wal-Mart president and chief executive officer Tony DeNunzio said it had found a way round the UK’s restrictive planning regimes.
He said Asda was investing in new store builds, re-sites, extensions, and mezzanines. Total square footage of around 700,000 sq ft will be added over the year.
DeNunzio said: “In spite of an increasingly restrictive planning regime, we will be creating an extra 4,300 jobs throughout the UK enabling more and more people to shop at Britain's favourite supermarket.”
The plans extending of five stores as supercentres, including the recently acquired former Sainsbury’s Savacentre at Basildon.
Mezzanine levels will be added to five stores, with extensions at eleven other stores.
Meanwhile, Wal-Mart singled Asda out for praise as it reported £1.2bn profit for the first quarter to April 30 this week.
It said Asda had outperformed its supermarket rivals in the UK on food over the quarter, which started on February 1.
Wal-Mart reported Asda saw mid single digit growth in food sales compared to the first quarter of 2003, and grew market share 0.3% to 13.3%.
It said it had seen both traffic and ticket growth in its 265 stores, with high single digit growth overall.
Growth in general merchandise sales was in its mid-teens. The home entertainment area did best with sales of DVDs and DVD players particularly strong.
Wal-Mart told analysts Asda would open its third pilot standalone George store in Northampton later this month and a fourth in Preston in June.
Wal-Mart reported profit was $2.2bn (£1.2bn) in the first quarter, up from $1.8bn in the first quarter 2003. Quarterly turnover rose 14.2% to $64.8bn.
But Wal-Mart president and CEO Lee Scott said he feared higher energy prices would dent consumer spending later this year.
ASDA Wal-Mart president and chief executive officer Tony DeNunzio said it had found a way round the UK’s restrictive planning regimes.
He said Asda was investing in new store builds, re-sites, extensions, and mezzanines. Total square footage of around 700,000 sq ft will be added over the year.
DeNunzio said: “In spite of an increasingly restrictive planning regime, we will be creating an extra 4,300 jobs throughout the UK enabling more and more people to shop at Britain's favourite supermarket.”
The plans extending of five stores as supercentres, including the recently acquired former Sainsbury’s Savacentre at Basildon.
Mezzanine levels will be added to five stores, with extensions at eleven other stores.
Meanwhile, Wal-Mart singled Asda out for praise as it reported £1.2bn profit for the first quarter to April 30 this week.
It said Asda had outperformed its supermarket rivals in the UK on food over the quarter, which started on February 1.
Wal-Mart reported Asda saw mid single digit growth in food sales compared to the first quarter of 2003, and grew market share 0.3% to 13.3%.
It said it had seen both traffic and ticket growth in its 265 stores, with high single digit growth overall.
Growth in general merchandise sales was in its mid-teens. The home entertainment area did best with sales of DVDs and DVD players particularly strong.
Wal-Mart told analysts Asda would open its third pilot standalone George store in Northampton later this month and a fourth in Preston in June.
Wal-Mart reported profit was $2.2bn (£1.2bn) in the first quarter, up from $1.8bn in the first quarter 2003. Quarterly turnover rose 14.2% to $64.8bn.
But Wal-Mart president and CEO Lee Scott said he feared higher energy prices would dent consumer spending later this year.
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