The 10-store expansion plans will cost Asda some £360million and will create 3,900 new jobs. Refurbishment of stores at Sheffield and Wigan to supercentre status will create a further 300 jobs.
Asda is also rolling out its new mezzanine floor layout to a further three stores following a successful pilot at its supermarket in York.
The new stores will be located in Bournemouth, Thurmaston, Basingstoke, Crawley, Oldbury, Sutton, Stevenage and Harlow. A ninth and tenth store will come from re-siting of two of the following three stores, Widnes, Chesser (Edinburgh), Halifax.
Meanwhile Wal-Mart reported record sales and earnings increases for the quarter ended January 31, 2003. Total sales increased by 10.7 per cent over the same period last year and earnings were up 16.3 per cent per share.
Dow Jones International News reported Asda's food sales increased in the 'high single digits' and fresh foods performed particularly well. The store also said that Asda customer numbers grew by 800,000 to 9.4million customers a week.
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