Business at Asda, the last of the supermarket diehards to resist the convenience store revolution, is looking up after parent company Walmart reported the first positive quarterly sales figure for its UK business in three years.
Walmart reported Asda’s same-store sales were up 1.8% in the second quarter to 30 June. Net sales climbed 3.9%.
Easter proved one of the supermarket group’s most successful Easter trading periods on record with sales up 16%.
With Easter stripped out, Asda achieved a 0.7% same-store uplift compared with the same period in 2016.
Doug McMillon, Walmart’s president and chief executive, was “encouraged” by Asda’s performance.
Customers were responding to investments in price and store experience by visiting the stores more frequently and increasing the amount they bought during each shop.
“There’s still much more to be done, but we’re clearly headed in the right direction,” he said.
Sean Clarke, Asda’s president and chief executive, said Asda’s continued focus on delivering ”great value and service” meant 275,000 new customers chose to shop there during the period, particularly during Easter.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with our suppliers to create the best products, make investments where they matter most to our customers, and ensure that we are fit for purpose in what remains a competitive market,” said Clarke.
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