Asda Set To Open 168 Stores in 2011, Helping Save Shoppers More Money Than Every Before

* Asda receives confirmation the OFT will not refer its acquisition of Netto to the Competition Commission;
* Acquisition will add 147 Netto stores and 1.2m sq ft of space;
* £100m-plus capital investment to convert the stores to Asda Supermarkets by end of 2011;
* Organic growth set to add a further 21 stores and 550k sq ft, including seven Asda Superstores, four Asda Livings, ten Asda Supermarkets and five extensions to existing stores;
* Same, low prices will be charged in all Asda stores nationwide, regardless of size, format or location;
* Customers in all converted Netto stores will also benefit from the Asda ten per cent price guarantee.

Asda confirmed today (Wednesday 9th March 2011) it is set to open 168 stores in 2011, adding 1.8m sq ft of retail food space in, the largest single year of growth in its history. The additional space is a combination of planned organic growth and the acquisition of 147 Netto stores.

The converted Netto stores will all trade under the Asda Supermarkets banner and will average 8,000sq ft in size. Shoppers in those stores will be able to complete a full weekly shop, with the number of products increasing five-fold compared to an existing Netto store.

All of Asda’s customers will also benefit from its national low price policy, which means prices do not differ from one store to the next, regardless of their size, format or location.

In addition to the 147 Netto conversions, Asda will also add a further 550k sq ft of space organically, including the opening of seven new Asda Superstores, four new Asda Livings, ten new Asda Supermarkets and five extensions to existing Asda stores. Last week Asda entered into a contract to acquire six stores from Focus DIY, which, subject to landlord’s approvals and appropriate local planning consents, will be converted into Asda Supermarkets*.

Judith McKenna, Asda chief financial officer, said: “The combination of acquiring 147 Netto stores together with our organic growth plans means we will be able to save customers more money than ever before.

“We’ll also create 1,500 jobs as we convert all of the Netto stores into Asda Supermarkets.

“I want to thank my colleagues sincerely both at Netto and Asda for their patience and dedication throughout. Since we announced our intention last May to purchase these stores, it has been a long, drawn out process. I’m confident, based on the plans in place, the integration will be a huge success.”

Customers in all of Asda’s stores will continue to benefit from the Asda Price Guarantee (APG). The APG is powered by Mysupermarket.co.uk, ensuring both its price integrity and independence. If Asda isn’t at least ten per cent cheaper than Tesco, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose on a basket of comparable grocery products, Asda will refund the difference.

In total Asda is investing more than £100m in capital converting the stores, helping create hundreds more jobs for its building and shop-fitting contractors. The first converted Netto stores - in Worksop, Wakefield and Stainforth - will open in May.

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Notes for editors:
* Asda expects to open five of the six Focus DIY stores it has acquired during 2011.
Asda will create 7,500 jobs in total in 2011, including 1,500 from the Netto conversions.

About Asda Stores Ltd.
Founded in the 1960s, Asda today is one of Britain’s leading retailers. It has over 175,000 dedicated Asda colleagues serving customers from 386 stores, including 27 Asda Living stores, 25 depots and seven recycling centres across the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). It has its main home office in Leeds, Yorkshire and its George clothing division based in Lutterworth Leicestershire. Asda serves over 18 million shoppers a week in store and its growing home shopping business serves 98 per cent of UK homes.