British supermarket group Asda said it planned to open 300 convenience stores by the end of 2026, aiming to become a player in the smaller shop market to help drive growth, and creating 10,000 new jobs in the process.
The group, Britain's third largest grocer after Tesco and Sainsbury's, has traditionally focused on bigger shops and lagged its competitors in the smaller, convenience market.
It said on Tuesday (6) that would change.
"The development of a store network in this market is a key part of Asda's long-term growth strategy to become the UK's second largest supermarket," Asda, owned since last year by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and private equity company TDR Capital, said in a statement.
The group opened its second Asda Express convenience store in Tottenham, north London, on Tuesday, and added that it had found locations for more openings in Wiltshire, Essex and Surrey.
The 300 store target does not include the convenience stores which Asda was acquiring from grocer Co-op, it said. That deal was going through usual regulatory checks.
(Reuters)
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During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)