Asda announces major expansion plans

ASDA today pledged to invest more than £500m this year in a store and depot expansion programme that is set to create up to 5,000 jobs.

The Leeds-headquartered supermarket chain said it wanted to open 25 new stores and three new depots in 2012, as well as extending or refurbishing 43 of its existing stores.

It has already been announced that an Asda store will be the anchor for the long-anticipated Shirley Parkgate scheme in Solihull.

The new stores programme announced today will add more than 600,000 sq ft of selling space through superstores, small format supermarkets and the Asda Living concept,

Last year Asda, part of Walmart, acquired 194 Netto stores in a £778m deal to give it further access into the small grocery store sector.