Asda to invest £700m
ASDA has reported a 4.5% rise in annual sales as the supermarket group revealed plans to invest more than £700m into online, new and existing stores in a move that will create up to 2,500 jobs.
The major investment will include investment into new and existing stores as well as improving the Leeds-based group’s supply chain.
Asda, which saw 2012 sales including petrol grow to £22.8bn, said that although bricks and mortar stores were central to growth, the shape of its investment had shifted its focus to accelerating its multichannel business.
Andy Clarke, president and chief executive of Asda, said: “I’m proud that in the continuing and very challenging trading environment we were able to increase total sales by 4.5% last year. This shows that we are continuing to get it right for customers.
“By focusing on their needs through accelerating our investment in the technology and infrastructure to make shopping more convenient, customers can shop for what they want, when they want it.”
Asda is also investing in ‘click and collect’ facilities for George clothing and general merchandise in all of its 568 stores and customers will be able to collect grocery shopping from almost 200 outlets by the end of 2013.
In the remainder of the year, the retailer will also open 10 new stores, including four new small format supermarkets, five superstores and one new non-food outlets.
