Tuesday 21st February, 2006
New ASDA Stores To Deliver 7,000 New Jobs In 2006
On the day Wal-Mart announced its full year results for its latest financial year, ASDA announced it was set to create 7,000 news jobs through a minimum of 25 new stores and five major investment schemes in places it currently trades - the first, in Fleetwood Lancashire, will open next week (27th February).
News of the expansion also comes as ASDA prepares to open the first of its new format stores, ‘ASDA Essentials’ in Northampton before Easter.
The new openings in 2006 demonstrate ASDA’s continued flexible approach to new stores, with a variety of small, medium and large stores, the new discount-plus format, ‘ASDA Essentials’, and acceleration of the ASDA Living programme.
Plans also include further town centre and regeneration schemes. In Romford, customers will benefit from an exciting mixed-use scheme, combining an ASDA store with 229 new apartments, with over a third listed as affordable housing. This £25 million investment will also include the transformation of a derelict leisure centre and 450 new jobs. In Hounslow, ASDA will play a part in one of the largest mixed-use regeneration schemes in the UK - The Blenheim centre. The regeneration of this town centre represents a £220 million investment.
2006 plans include, amongst others, new stores in Fleetwood, Huntly, Feltham, Newton Abbot, Rushden, Alloa and Hounslow. Ellesmere Port and Rawtenstall will both benefit from store re-sites, whilst customers in Scotland can experience ASDA Living as the supermarket opens its first non-food store in Glasgow this spring. An additional two George high street stores will also open in 2006 in Middlesbrough and Southend.
250 new jobs will also be created through store extension schemes at ASDA stores in Bodmin, Broadstairs, Pentwyn, Dumbarton and Coventry.
Judith Mckenna, ASDA’s chief financial officer said, “Our 2006 store and investment programme further demonstrates our commitment to flexible formats, mixed use and re-generation schemes, enabling us to create an increasing number of jobs across the UK.”
-ends-
Further information:
Sian Horner, 0113 241 7829
Out of hours, 0113 243 5435
Notes for Editors
Wal-Mart Results
- Wal-Mart will release its annual results for the year ending 31st January 2006 at approximately 12:30pm (7.30am EST New York) today (21 February 2006).
- Wal-Mart’s analyst briefing, which covers ASDA performance, is available via a pre-recorded telephone call on + 1 203-369-1090 or via the web at the investor relations site at http://www.walmartstores.com/earnings.
New Stores
ASDA will open at least 25 new ASDA stores throughout England, Scotland and Wales this year, creating 7,000 new jobs.
New stores in 2006 include the following
- Fleetwood – creating 38,000sq ft net sales space and 450 new jobs
- Romford – creating 50,000sq ft net sales space and 430 new jobs
- Huntly – creating 23,000sq ft net sales space and 300 new jobs
- Feltham – creating 45,000sq ft net sales space and 500 new jobs
- Hereford – creating 46,000sq ft net sales space and 525 new jobs
- Ellesmere Port (re-site) – creating 42,000 sq ft of additional sales space (existing 44k) and 450 new jobs
- Rawtenstall (re-site) – creating 26,000sg ft of additional sales space (existing 34k) and 300 new jobs
- Newton Abbot – creating 40,000sq ft net sales space and 430 new jobs
- Rushden – creating 37,000 sq ft net sales space and 330 new jobs
- Alloa – creating 30,000 sq ft net sales space and 300 new jobs
- Hounslow – creating 43,000 sq ft net sales space and 550 new jobs
Other new store locations will be confirmed later in the year.
New non-food stores
ASDA will open three non-food stores in the first half of this year, including:
- Glasgow Fort, Glasgow – creating 24,000 sq ft net sales space and 80 new jobs
- Crown Point, Leeds – creating 32,000 sq ft net sales space and 110 new jobs
- Edinburgh – creating 32,000 sq ft net sales space and 110 new jobs
George stores
- Southend - 10,000 sq ft net sales space and 30 new jobs
- Middlesbrough - 10,000sq ft net sales space and 30 new jobs
New formats - 'ASDA Essentials'
- St James, Northampton - creating 8,000sq ft net sales space and 30 new jobs
Extensions
ASDA will continue to invest in its store extension programme, with plans to extend five stores this year in the following locations:
- Bodmin - extension of 12,000 sq ft
- Broadstairs - extension of 10,000 sq ft
- Pentwyn - extension of 10,000 sq ft
- Dumbarton - extension of 17,000sq ft
- Coventry - extension of 12,000 sq ft
