Asda has unveiled ‘major investment’ plans to open new superstores in Scotland.
The Wal-Mart owned supermarket chain is set to open three stores - in Galashiels, where almost 500 staff will be employed, as well as Grangemouth and Alloa - between next month and the end of November.
Dalgety Bay and Stenhousemuir are among the locations ear-marked for store openings in 2007. Tain, Banff and Inverness are also in line for new stores.
The supermarket also intends to open a non-food Asda Living outlet in Edinburgh.
The expansion plans will create 1330 new jobs in Scotland this year.
Glenn Bowles, Asda regional managing director, said: “Scotland is our traditional heartland, and Scots are some of our most loyal customers.
“We will be looking alongside the communities we serve to ensure the local traders see the benefit of our presence.
“Our Collect & Save scheme, a reciprocal trading initiative with local businesses, was trailled in Huntley earlier this year and has proved very successful, with almost a quarter of the town’s population taking part in the scheme. We hope to introduce this in other towns when we open new stores.”