Asda has begun the conversion of 116 convenience stores and attached petrol station forecourts acquired from the Co-op Group last year.
Eleven sites have been identified as the first tranche to be rebranded to Asda Express, with the remaining 105 sites due to be converted by the end of Q1 next year.
Asda acquired the 132 sites from the Co-op last year in a £438m deal as part of its long-term strategy to move into the convenience channel. The deal received regulatory approval from the Competition & Markets Authority in June once Asda agreed to divest 13 sites to satisfy competition requirements. Andy Perry, who ran the acquired Co-op sites while the acquisition received regulatory approval from the CMA, has joined Asda as vice president of convenience.
The converted Asda Express sites will stock up to 3,000 branded and own-label products focusing on ‘top up’ shops for essential items such as milk and bread, grabbing lunch on the go or cooking dinner from scratch.
Asda’s co-owner, Mohsin Issa said: “The launch of our conversion programme is an incredibly exciting moment for our business and accelerates our presence in the fast-growing convenience market. We look forward to bringing Asda’s great value in fuel and groceries to many more communities across the UK and to welcoming over 2,000 former Co-op colleagues to the Asda family in the coming months.”
In addition to the recently converted Asda Express stores, the supermarket chain currently has three stand-alone Express stores in Sutton Coldfield, Tottenham Hale in London and Calne, with sites at Manchester Oxford Road and Romford Station due to open in the coming months.
Asda also confirmed that its acquisition of EG Group’s UK convenience estate is on track to complete in the final quarter of this year.
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