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<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="5"><b><font size="3">Click 
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<h1><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3">Asda news and facts history</font></h1>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3">ASDA is a chain of supermarkets 
  in the United Kingdom offering food, clothing and general merchandise products.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><a href="http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/News/Columns/Asda_news_and_facts_history_200810036247/"><b>Click 
  here</b></a> to view the list of the last related news items, published by FashionUnited 
  in the fashion news archive. </font></p>
<p><b><a name="top">&nbsp;</a></b></p>
<p><a name="20070816"></a> </p>
<p><strong>George clothing under pressure </strong></p>
<p>Wal-Mart is expected to confirm the recovery of Asda this week, despite problems at clothing brand George. George is under pressure this week following the departure of global brand chief Angela Spindler, who was a member of the Asda executive board. </p>
<p>Asda chief executive Andy Bond, who previously ran George, has taken control until a successor is appointed. It is thought that George, as advertised by Wayne Rooney's fiancee Coleen McLoughlin, has not been immune to challenging trading conditions in the sector. It has come under pressure from the expansion of Primark with Asda opting to expand its homeware chain Asda Living, which incorporates George, rather than open dedicated stores. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk </a><br>
  15 August 2007 </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a name="20070724"></a> </p>
<p><strong>George clothing to be sold online </strong></p>
<p>Asda is going digital and will start selling its George clothing range over the internet for the first time next year in one of the biggest online pushes in Wal-Mart's recent history. An initial range of 1,000 menswear, womenswear and childrenswear lines will be sold online to UK shoppers from February 2008. The range will be expanded significantly following the launch. </p>
<p>Asda has signed a deal with Zendor, a subsidiary of N Brown, the home shopping company, to manage the website and provide warehousing for the products. Internet shopping is fast coming of age in the UK. Typical online spend per customer is set to grow to &pound;1,056 by 2011 from &pound;606 in 2006, according to Verdict Research. The launch of George online follows Marks &amp; Spencer's recent relaunch of its website. Asda also hopes to steal a march on rival Tesco, the UK's largest retailer, which briefly tested selling clothes online last Christmas but is yet to commit to launching a full online clothing offer. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk">www.asda.co.uk </a><br>
  23 July 2007</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<P><a name="20070328"></a></P>
<p><strong>Asda for British fashion </strong></p>
<p><img src="../gfx/2005news/Asda.jpg" width="260" height="354" align="right">A major campaign to boost the beleaguered British clothing industry has been announced by supermarket ASDA. &nbsp; It is going to stock an entire range of clothing made exclusively in the UK � with a Union Jack label displayed prominently to emphasise their origin. &nbsp; In addition, it is setting up a Dragon's Den style open access system, where UK clothing manufacturers can present their latest ideas and designs to a panel of ASDA buyers. &nbsp; </p>
<p>The supermarket's decision is in stark contrast to other retailers who are increasingly abandoning UK clothing suppliers in favour of overseas sources. &nbsp; Said ASDA clothing boss Angela Spindler: �Britain has some of the best clothing designers and manufacturers in the world, and we want to see their products in our stores. &nbsp; �There's a huge talent base in the UK, and we believe customers will want to buy British clothes in the same way they want to buy locally produced foods grown and prepared in Britain.�&nbsp; </p>
<p>More than one million garments will be produced each year and sold in ASDA stores under the George brand nationwide. Every item of clothing will be clearly labelled &quot;Made in the UK&quot;. &nbsp; The supermarket has also pledged to put new country of origin labels in its entire range of George clothing within the next 12 months - and has challenged other value fashion retailers to follow suit.&nbsp; Angela added: &quot;Our fast fashion ranges are inspired by the latest catwalk trends which means we need to turn our designs into production as quickly as possible. &nbsp; </p>
<p>&quot;It obviously makes sense for us to use local manufacturers here in the UK whenever we can, rather than shipping in products from the other side of the world.&quot; The move by ASDA to support UK manufacturers bucks the recent trend by other leading fashion houses. Burberry recently announced it was transferring production overseas with the loss of 300 jobs in Rhondda, Wales. &nbsp; &quot;Despite what you'd think, the British clothing industry is alive and kicking and has plenty to offer retailers like ourselves,&quot; said Angela. &nbsp; �We want to do all that we can to encourage new designers and new manufacturers to come forward. If you've got new designs and new styles or new garments, we want to hear from you.&quot; </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.com" target="_blank">www.asda.com </a><br>
  27 March 2007 <br>
  <a name="20061107"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Asda catches up to internet trend </strong></p>
<p>Having been slow to recognize the significance of online shopping, Asda is now investing in a game of catch up to competitors like Tesco and Sainsbury's. The supermarket giant is planning to recruit an extra 1,800 employees to help drive that aspect of the business. "We were slow to understand how big a market and how big a customer demand there was for dot.com," Asda chief executive Andy Bond said this weekend. British consumers are spending 30 percent more online. The dot.com market was valued at &pound;21.4 billion last year and Interactive Media in Retail Group has predicted a 40 percent increase in online spending over the Christmas period. </p>
<p>The group is concentrating its new hires on back office staff, drivers and logistical support. By October 2007, 157 of the 310 Asda stores should be able to offer internet shopping service, compared with the current 91 stores. The group is aiming for 80 percent of its stores to be dot.com ready. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk </a><br>
  7 November 2006 <br>
  <a name="20061106"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp; </p>
<p><strong>Asda.com sees Chrismas potential </strong></p>
<p>Christmas is typically the most profitable time of year for retailers and this year deems to be no exception. Online retailers especially will benefit, with forecasts set for Britons to spend more than ever online this festive season. With internet shopping to total a record &pound;7bn, a rise of 40% in the three months running up to Christmas. Major retailers are fueling the online boom by heavily investing in their online service. Retailers such as Tesco and Argos are seeing growth in areas such as clothing and furniture - items consumers normally bought in-store. The new fashion trends are expecting to help online stores maximise on sales. Thanks to a shift in &quot;fashion silhouettes&quot; -- broader-than-normal changes in the cut and shape of the latest clothing -- trend-conscious consumers will be poised to buy. </p>
<p>Asda is one such company, aiming to cater to the online demand, and is expected to take on 1,800 staff in an expansion of its internet operations after admitting it misread online retail growth potential. Asda further aims expand Asda Living, its non-food store offering, from a trialing 7 stores to a national 300. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Andy Bond, Asda's CEO, admitted that the chain had been far too late embracing the online revolution. &quot;We were slow to understand how big a market and how big a customer demand there was for dotcom,&quot; he said. Projections for online sales will reach new heights. </p>
<p>Even after its online push, Asda is likely to face formidable competition from Tesco. Geographically, Tesco.com's service covers 95 per cent of the UK, but Asda's will cover only around 80 per cent, because of the lack of Asda stores in certain parts of the UK. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.com" target="_blank">www.asda.com </a><br>
    <a href="http://www.thedailytelegraph.co.uk" target="_blank">www.thedailytelegraph.co.uk </a><br>
  6 November 2006 <br>
  <a name="20060627"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Cashmere deal for Asda </strong></p>
<p>Scottish cashmere producer, Belinda Robertson has signed a deal with supermarket giant Asda to supply it with its own cashmere cleaning liquid. According to terms of the agreement, Asda will receive 6,000 bottles of Cashmere Wash every two weeks. The product will be available nationwide. Belinda Dickson, chief executive of the Edinburgh-based company, said the liquid is a "proven product that already has a strong following." She said that the product had been a developed as part of the washing process, but she had recognized its commercial value. "All my customers use it and have always come back for more," she told The Scotsman. Another client, Tesco, has just renewed its contract. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.belindarobertson.com/" target="_blank">www.belindarobertson.com </a><br>
  27 June 2007 </p>
<P><a name="300306"></a></P>
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P><strong>Asda launches budget clothing line </strong></P>
<p>Supermarket Asda has launched a new budget clothing line called George Must Haves. The new line is approximately 20 percent cheaper than its existing George brand. According to just-style.com, Asda is hoping to challenge rival retail chain Primark in the budget clothing stakes. The latter has become increasingly popular as a purveyor of trendy high street fashion at bargain prices. Must Haves will be renewed every month and will offer 15 items of men's and women's fashion and a smaller selection of children's wear from 6 April. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk<br>
</a>30 March 2006</p>
<P></P>
<P><a name="270306"></a></P>
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P><strong>Former Asda ceo launches buyout fund </strong></P>
<p>Former Asda chairman Archie Norman has teamed up with retail consultant Bradley Palmer to launch a &pound;1 billion buyout fund targeting a range of businesses, including retailers. The fund, called Aurigo, is expected to be launched in a couple of weeks and is already believed to have acquisitions in mind. According to sources, Norman has held tentative discussions with a mid-sized retailer. Norman said he was "not really at the stage" of talking to potential targets. "I am not in a position to say anything at the moment," he said. </p>
27 March 2006
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P><a name="130306"></a></P>
<P></P>
<P><strong>Asda to take on 7,000 new staff </strong></P>
<p><img src="../gfx/2005news/Asda.jpg" width="260" height="354" align="right">Supermarket and retail group Asda is to take on 7,000 staff across the UK this year, owner Wal-Mart has stated. According to the BBC, Asda needs the staff to work at the 25 new stores it plans to open, as well as to boost staffing levels at five sites it is pumping extra investment into. </p>
<p>The giant is putting money into expansion to win back market share from rivals such as Sainsbury's. It also said it would be opening its first new format Asda Essentials discount store in Northampton in March. </p>
<p>The cut-price Essentials chain will stock mainly Asda own brands. Asda also is poised to make the most of a huge surge in non-food shopping at UK supermarkets as it prepares to open the doors of its first Asda Living non-food shop in Glasgow this spring. </p>
<p>That will be followed by the opening of two high street George fashion branches in Middlesbrough and Southend. </p>
<p>&quot;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,&quot; said chief finance officer Judith McKenna. </p>
<p>In November, the group said it had decided to focus on &quot;frontline&quot; in-store staffing in an bid to boost its customer service. In July, Asda said it would be axing 1,400 middle managers and taking on 2,500 shop workers. That announcement was followed in November with the news that it would be investing &pound;10m on recruiting an extra 2,000 staff in the UK. In recent months, while Asda has held on to the second-biggest slice of the UK supermarket sector, it has been losing market share to third-placed Sainsbury's. </p>
10 March 2006
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P> </P>
<p><a name="060206"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Asda to open Living Stores </strong></p>
<p>Asda is to roll out its non food format across the country following a successful 18 month trial. Andy Bond, CEO will unveil the plans this week at groups annual management conference. Bond will tell the conference that Wal-Mart has agreed to press the 'green button' and that 15 Asda Living Stores will be opened by the end of the year - with more to follow. </p>
<p>The out of town stores have a mezzanine floor of George clothing, jewellery, and accessories and a ground floor selling homeware and electrical appliances. Planning rules have frustrated attempts by Asda to open new supermarkets, but obtaining planning permission for non food developments is far easier. </p>
<h1></h1>
4 February 2005
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Asda reports flat sales </strong></p>
<p><img src="../gfx/2005news/Asda.jpg" width="260" height="354" align="right">Asda yesterday revealed sales in the third quarter were &quot;essentially flat&quot;.<br>
The group's owner, the United States' Wal-Mart, also admitted that Asda had failed to meet expectations in the three-month period to end-October, when its market share had also failed to improve. </p>
<p>Mike Duke, head of international operations, said: &quot;Asda sales and profits fell short of plan for the quarter; the UK market continues to be very competitive and challenging.&quot;<br>
"Total sales grew in the &quot;mid-single digits&quot; if petrol sales are included and in the &quot;low single digits&quot; if not. &quot;Comparable store sales and market share in the quarter were essentially flat,&quot; Wal-Mart said. </p>
<p>David Stoddard, retail analyst at the stock broker Teather &amp; Greenwood, said: &quot;This is a continuation of the position Asda has been in. One of [new chief executive] Andy Bond's targets is to put it right. It doesn't change over night. Asda is not achieving what it needs to be a strong number two,&quot; he said. </p>
<p>Some analysts believe that Asda was slow to react to British planning laws while Tesco was quick to capitalise on them by using different formats - from large superstores to small convenience stores - to continue growth. Lee Scott, chief of Wal-Mart, has called on the government to force an inquiry into Tesco's dominance, as has Sainsbury 's chief executive, Justin King, while last week John Bridgeman, the former boss of the Office of Fair Trading, called for a new investigation into the way supermarkets dominate food retailing in Britain. </p>
<p>Asda is entering its most critical trading period. It hopes to outpace Sainsbury's, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, as it is aimed at bulk-buying and has a wide range of non-food items such as toys aimed at the festive buyer. </p>
<p>An Asda spokesman said yesterday: &quot;Our overall sales are still growing, and with seven new stores opening this week alone - equivalent to 25% of our total new sales space this year - we're working hard to ensure we have a good Christmas. We have high expectations. And there is no doubt that our performance this year has not hit the heights we've set in previous years. Nevertheless, most of our competitors would be chuffed to bits in the current climate to have our numbers.&quot; </p>
15 November 2005
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda to cut 1,400 jobs</b></p>
<p>On Tuesday the UK's second-largest supermarket chain announced that it would 
  cut 1,400 jobs, including 200 at its head office, in an effort to keep afloat 
  in a competitive retail market. The Wal-Mart-owned chain said 1,200 jobs would 
  be cut in stores, while 200 management jobs at its Leeds and Lutterworth centres 
  would be scrapped. This represents 1 percent of the total amount of Asda employess.</p>
<p>Chief executive Andy Bond said in March: &quot;While our sales have slowed 
  in recent months as the economy's tightened, Asda is no retail straggler. But 
  I'm simply not satisfied with this year's average performance - our natural 
  home is outperformance and today's changes put in place the teams that will 
  reignite our business over the next 12-18 months.&quot;</p>
<p>Rivals like Tesco and J.Sainsbury have been challenging Asda as they have lowered 
  their prices to improve their competitive edge. In June market researchers TNS 
  revealed that Tesco had achieved more than 30 per cent market share in the month 
  of May, spearheading the group. If Bond's prediction is right, Sainsbury will 
  soon reclaim its number two slot from Asda due to the latter's poor trading.</p>
<p>&quot;Non-food sales have generally been down pretty badly this year,&quot; 
  said one analyst on Tuesday. &quot;We think that 30 per cent of Asda sales come 
  from non-food items. Asda has also been hit by the fact that it has tried to 
  squeeze non-food into the same retail space rather than opening new space.&quot;</p>
<p>Further to its job slashes, Asda announced the return of Andy Clarke to the 
  company as retail director after a three-year gap working for Matalan and Iceland.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  6 July 2005<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda possible bid Somerfield</b></p>
<p><img src="../gfx/2005news/Asda.jpg" width="260" height="354" align="left">Supermarket 
  chain Asda has appointed investment bank Lazard to explore a possible bid for 
  food chain Somerfield, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Asda, the UK's 
  second largest supermarket group and owned by Wal-Mart, is looking to extend 
  its presence in the UK market.</p>
<p>Although it is not yet clear whether Asda will go through with an offer, it 
  is expected that its interest in Somerfield will pressure other interested parties 
  into formalising their offers. Other potential bidders include Baugur, the Icelandic 
  group, which joined forces with a consortium that includes Robert Tchenguiz, 
  the property entrepreneur. Property groups London Regional and Topland have 
  also shown interest.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Baugur made a proposal of GBP 1.03 billion, which Somerfield 
  subsequently rejected. The Barclays-Apax-Tchenguiz consortium then made a proposal 
  of 205 pence per share, which valued Somerfield's equity at GBP1.12 billion. 
  The informal deadline for interested parties to put forward a proposal is this 
  week. However, if Asda appeared on the scene, this could change. </p>
<p>If Asda were to aquire Somerfield, this would mean a considerable step forward 
  in Wal-Mart's UK strategy. Asda would thereby enter the convenience sector, 
  which Wal-Mart has previously avoided.</p>
<p>A possible acquisition could raise the issue of competition. Under regulations, 
  the convenience and supermarket sectors are considered separate from eachother. 
  However, since Tesco and Sainsbury, the biggest and third biggest supermarkets 
  respectively, have moved into the convenience store sector, this destinction 
  has been criticised. Asda and Somerfield could not be reached for comment.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.somerfield.plc.uk/" target="_blank">www.somerfield.plc.uk</a><br>
  <a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  26 April 2005<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda To Expand Clothing Business</b></p>
<p>Asda is gearing up for a major expansion of its clothing and other non-food 
  outlets as it tries to close the gap with its arch-rival Tesco in overall retail 
  sales in the UK.Threet George stand-alone stores are planned for operation this 
  year, adding to the four opened by Asda in 2004, and new Asda Living stores, 
  which include clothing, are to open in Altrincham, Cheshire and on the Cortonwood 
  retail park near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.</p>
<p>In addition, the group says it plans to open 15 new super-stores in 2005 and 
  build extra floor space at 20 other existing sites at a total cost of $600m. 
  The expansion will include a 100,000sq ft superstore in Milton Keynes and will 
  create 6,000 new jobs, according to the company. Reports that Asda is posed 
  to acquire 13 former Safeway stores in Northern Ireland fro the Wm Morrison 
  supermarket was confirmed last week. Industry observers in the UK and Ireland 
  speculated that Asda might use such an acquisition as the launch pad to push 
  south into the republic.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  31 March 2005 <br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda in bid for Littlewoods</b></p>
<p>Asda has approached the Barclay brothers with an indicative offer of up to 
  &pound;500m for Littlewoods, the department store business. The group, owned 
  by Wal-Mart, is understood to be one of a number of retailers to have made unsolicited 
  bids for Littlewoods in recent months. </p>
<p>Having received the offers, Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, who own the 
  Ritz hotel and The Daily Telegraph, have now initiated a formal sale process 
  for the store chain. Retailers believed to have expressed an interest in some 
  or all of the stores include New Look and Primark.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  31 January 2005 <br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Sharon Osbourne new face of Asda</b></p>
<p>Asda, who are running an advertising campaign inspired by Mums, are to feature 
  Sharon Osbourne as the star of its ads. The X-Factor judge, reality TV star 
  and music industry icon, has been chosen to front a series of national television 
  adverts which will air from February 17 throughout the year. </p>
<p>The theme of the campaign will be mums, with Sharon appearing with a number 
  of Asda's real-life Mums in a Million who will talk about what it's like to 
  be a modern parent - and how Asda helps make life a little easier.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  18 January 2005 <br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Tesco &amp; Asda big in Europe</b></p>
<p>Tesco and Asda are leading the way in the European supermarket sector with 
  their non-food ranges, according to a report by market research company Mintel.</p>
<p>The report states that Tesco, which sells clothing brands Florence &amp; Fred 
  and Cherokee, and Asda, which sells the infamous George at Asdalabel, have both 
  developed strong and well-focused brands that are appealing to shoppers outside 
  the UK and are well ahead of the non-food ranges of their European competitors, 
  such as Carrefour in France.</p>
<p>Sales of clothing at Tesco were up 39 per cent in the six months to August 
  14, and George at Asda generates annual sales of well of GBP1 billion.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  <a href="tesco.htm">&gt;&gt; more Tesco in the archive</a> <br>
  23 December 2004</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda Replaces M&amp;S As Biggest Retailer</b></p>
<p>Marks &amp; Spencer has lost its long-held crown as Britain's biggest clothing 
  retailer to Asda, the supermarket chain owned by Wal-Mart, the world's largest 
  store group. According to confidential industry figures seen by the Telegraph, 
  over the past three months George at Asda, the supermarket's own-brand clothing 
  line famous for its GBP4 jeans, has overtaken M&amp;S in terms of the volume 
  of clothing it sells.</p>
<p>The revelation that M&amp;S is no longer the UK's largest clothing retailer 
  - a position it has held for decades - will be a blow to Stuart Rose, the retailer's 
  new chief executive.</p>
<p>According to the latest FashionTrak survey, circulated to clients last week 
  by Taylor Nelson Sofres, the leading retail market research organisation, Asda 
  increased its share of the clothing and footwear market to 9.4 per cent for 
  the 12 weeks to July 25, up from 7.3 per cent in the same period last year. 
  By contrast, the M&amp;S share remained static at 9.1 per cent. George was launched 
  in 1990 by George Davies, the founder of Next, who is now the designer of M&amp;S's 
  own-brand Per Una range.</p>
<p>The emergence of George as the nation's biggest-volume clothes retailer is 
  an historic coup for Asda. &quot;For a very, very long time M&amp;S was unchallenged 
  at the top,&quot; said a former M&amp;S executive. &quot;George at Asda was 
  the original 'quality at value price' retailer. It also has strong brand awareness. 
  For a long time M&amp;S had the same kind of brand reputation as George, but 
  that has gone,&quot; said Rhys Williams, the retail analyst at Seymour Pierce. 
  &quot;It's going to take quite a long time for M&amp;S to build that back up.&quot;</p>
<p>Bhs, Evans, Burtons and Top Shop, which are all owned by Green, also saw their 
  shares of the volume market slip. However, sales volumes at his Dorothy Perkins 
  and Top Man outlets either grew or held firm. M&amp;S has retained the biggest 
  market share in terms of value, but this is largely due to its higher prices.</p>
<p>George at Asda has an annual turnover of more than &pound;1bn and is sold overseas 
  in Wal-Mart stores in Germany, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Canada and the US. The 
  brand has a chain of four standalone stores in the UK. A fifth opens tomorrow 
  in Liverpool.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  22 August 2004<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda Extends Home Shopping Availability</b></p>
<p>Asda is extending its home shopping to a further 21 stores, taking its coverage 
  to 40 per cent of the UK. This expansion follows a successful first half to 
  2004 in which the Wal-Mart owned supermarket chain saw like-for-like sales growth 
  in the high single digits. This month marks the fifth anniversary of Wal-Mart's 
  acquisition of Asda, in which time the chain has expanded its market share from 
  8.2 per cent to 11 per cent.</p>
<p>Wal-Mart does not give specific sales figures for its international businesses, 
  but said growth in the six months to July 31 was driven by both increased customer 
  traffic and higher spend per customer. General merchandise and clothing sales 
  grew in the high single digits. </p>
<p>So far this year, Asda has opened one new Supercenter, a superstore, two new 
  George standalone stores and five expanded superstores. There will be 22 store 
  expansions, and three George stores. The home shopping expansion represents 
  an investment of just over GBP3m, and has created 630 new roles so far for the 
  business.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  13 August 2004</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda Launches George Jewellery</b><br>
  <br>
  Forget your larder necessities, you can now buy your clothes and accessories 
  at your local supermarket. Even better, Asda is extending the George brand to 
  jewellery with the introduction of a new collection which will be sold exclusively 
  at jewellery counters in its supermarkets. </p>
<p>The 360-line range has been co-created by Asda's jewellery and George teams. 
  Trends in both clothing and jewellery will be reflected in the range which starts 
  at just 97p for basic earrings to GBP 9.97 for glamorous chokers.</p>
<p>New items will be delivered every three weeks to meet demand for ever-changing 
  fashion. George Jewellery will make up 40 per cent of the total jewellery offer 
  available to customers and focuses on accessories for women and children.</p>
<p>The new autumn/winter collection will be available in 165 stores. By the end 
  of the year George Jewellery will be available over jewellery counters and on 
  self select units in 257 stores.</p>
<p>David Miles, Asda director of speciality said: &quot;For many years customers 
  have loved up-to-the-minute fashion at every day low prices from George. Now 
  we've brought this fashion and price focus to George Jewellery allowing customers 
  to change their jewellery to match their look.&quot; </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  5 August 2004<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda Britain's Largest Retailing</b></p>
<p>Asda is set to overtake Marks &amp; Spencer as Britain's largest clothing retailer 
  by the end of the year, according to confidential industry figures. The revelation 
  will be a severe blow for recently appointed M&amp;S chief executive Stuart 
  Rose. Market share figures for the clothing and footwear market circulated to 
  retailers last week reveal that over the past three months the American-owned 
  Asda's market share has risen sharply to 8.9 per cent, just a fraction less 
  than M&amp;S's 9.1 per cent.</p>
<p>Asda is Britain's cheapest and most popular supermarket chain. Yet planning 
  restrictions and competition rules mean that huge swaths of the country remain 
  in effect closed to the company, which cannot get planning permission for new 
  stores or buy underperforming rivals. Frustrated by planning restrictions and 
  by the Competition Commission, Asda has drawn up plans to trial Asda Living, 
  a non-food format that, thanks to a quirk in the archaic planning laws, can 
  be rolled out across the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  3 August 2004 </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda May Branch out Into Europe</b></p>
<p>Asda may branch into Europe under Wal-Marts wing. The supermarket brand on 
  a visit to Brussels met with senior European Commission officials and Wal-Mart 
  chief executive Lee Scott said Asda could provide the world's biggest retailer 
  with a route into new European markets.</p>
<p>The UK chain, bought by Wal-Mart in 1999, has been the most successful of Wal-Mart's 
  two forays into Europe, outperforming the German operations acquired in 1997. 
</p>
<p>The Financial Times reports that Scott said he could not think &quot;of any 
  country in Europe that we wouldn't want to be in over the long course of time&quot;. 
  He added: &quot;If you get an attractive deal in Europe at some point that would 
  be an opportunity.</p>
<p>In recent months, Wal-Mart has been linked with a potential bid for Carrefour, 
  which is placed behind the US giant as the world's second-biggest retailer. 
  In February, the French company denied reports that its had received an informal 
  takeover approach. </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  25 May 2004<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda To Branch Out George Brand To Woolworths</b></p>
<p>Asda may be bringing its lower-price clothing brand George to out-of town retailer 
  Big W, operated by Woolworths. As was reported by the London Evening Standard, 
  the Wal-Mart owned supermarket giant heads a list of retailers targeted by Woolworths 
  to take space in the 21 Big W stores.</p>
<p>Woolworths previously announced that it is scaling back its own offer in the 
  stores and is looking to rent space to other retailers.<br>
  The newspaper further indicated that Woolworths and property agent Colliers 
  CRE have drawn up a list of prospective tenants for at least 800,000 sq ft of 
  space up for grabs in the stores.</p>
<p>The George brand heads a list of clothing retailers which also includes Marks 
  &amp; Spencer, Next, Arcadia, New Look, Matalan, TK Maxx and Bhs. Electrical 
  retailers Currys and Comet are also potential tenants.<br>
  There is no Asda store in two of the towns where Big W operates, and Asda is 
  currently trialing standalone George stores</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  1 April 2004 <br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>From Supermarket to High Street</b></p>
<p><img src="../gfx/2003news/asda_mid.jpg" width="250" height="175" align="left">Asda 
  is to take its value brand George to the high street. The supermarket giant 
  is planning to open two George stores this autumn, followed by a national roll-out 
  if successful.</p>
<p>The stores will see the complete range of the George brand, including men's, 
  women's and children's wear, as well as accessories, footwear and lingerie.</p>
<p>George confirmed the trial will not affect the level of George product carried 
  by its closest Asda supermarkets in Wallington, a mile away from the the unit 
  to be opened in Croyden, South London. More likely is that sales from the retailers 
  New Look and Select will be affected, rather than from the young fashion sector. 
  The market is crowded but George on the high street will be unique as it offers 
  great value for money and is a good product.</p>
<p>Asda currently sells its George range at 235 UK supermarkets. Product is divided 
  in seasonal collections and a fast fashion strategy, which has new products 
  introduced every 4-6 weeks.</p>
<p>13 June 2003<br>
  <a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> </p>
<p>&nbsp; </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Asda creates 2000 jobs in clothing division</b><br>
  <br>
  The supermarket chain Asda announced this week it is creating 2,000 new jobs 
  in its George clothing division. The company said the posts would be split equally 
  between full-time and temporary workers and will be across the 228 stores out 
  of a total of 245 that sell the clothing range. </p>
<p>The group, which is owned by US biggest chain store Wal-Mart, said half of 
  the permanent recruitment has already taken place with the rest of the staff 
  due to be recruited before October. Asda said the jobs were in addition to workers 
  being taken on at a new clothing distribution centre at Limeade, near Newcastle-under-Lyme 
  in North Staffordshire. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Figures published by Wal-Mart on Tuesday showed that sales of Asda's George 
  range grew by 30% in the three months to the end of July. The former Next designer 
  George Davies, who now supplies the Per Una range of young fashion for Marks 
  &amp; Spencer, created the brand. </p>
<p>Asda is trying to increase sales of its clothing range and other non-food goods 
  to improve its profit margins. It has already installed new rails and hangers 
  in its stores so that it can stock more clothing. </p>
<p>In January Asda announced it would be creating 10,000 new jobs but a spokesman 
  said the company had already exceeded that number. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank">www.asda.co.uk</a> <br>
  08-13-02<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Supermarkets still offer labels for low prices</b></p>
<p>ASDA SAYS -- WE ARE GLAD TO BE GREY SHOPPERS GIVEN �25M TOP BRANDS BOOST <br>
  UK Retailers Anticipate European Court 'Grey Market' Ruling <br>
  Despite negative European court ruling on cut-price designer brands, ASDA will 
  continue to give customers access to its biggest-ever range of top name designer 
  goods at extraordinary prices. ASDA has put on sale �25m of new designer goods 
  including skincare, fragrances and champagne from the so-called 'grey market' 
  and established 23 sports shops selling branded sports clothing and footwear. 
</p>
<p>The savings available to shoppers at ASDA in the run up to Christmas, thanks 
  to ASDA's network of wholesalers, distributors and importers are tremendous. 
  . A special �10m range of new designer fragrances from brands such as Dolce 
  & Gabbana, Clinique and Calvin Klein will be on sale in all stores at up to 
  half the price of the high street. For example, D&G's 'By' Femme is �24.97 compared 
  to the usual price of �55.00; <br>
  . Sports shops in over 20 strategic locations will sell �6m of sportswear and 
  footwear from brands such as Nike, Adidas and Umbro at up to 50 per cent below 
  recommended prices. For example, an Umbro classic pique polo shirt is just �7.97 
  compared to an RRP of �15.99. ASDA Price for a pair of junior Nike Cortez III 
  Trainers is �31.97, compared to an RRP of �39.99; <br>
  . Wal-Mart jewellery stores in 10 ASDA stores will sell an extensive range of 
  grey market watches from names such as Timberland, DKNY and Armani at a third 
  of the price of the high street; . ASDA's new vision centres will sell designer 
  frames from the grey market at around half the manufacturers' RRP; <br>
  . And whatever the court ruling, customers can celebrate or drown their sorrows 
  at over 50 stores with a bottle of 1991 or 1993 Dom Perignon champagne for just 
  �50.00 compared to an RRP of �79.99. <br>
  <br>
  "Despite the negative ruling and whatever the reaction of the brands will be, 
  we'll ensure our customers get the best deals on top names this Christmas," 
  said ASDA's speciality director David Miles. ASDA has been at the forefront 
  of the battle to reduce prices for customers and with its links to Wal-Mart, 
  is well-placed to take advantage of any relaxation in laws surrounding use of 
  the grey market.<a href="http://www.asda.co.uk" target="_blank"> <br>
  www.asda.co.uk</a> </p>
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