Asda to open more than 350 stores as part of nationwide expansion

More than 350 branches will open across the UK in the form of Asda Express convenience stores.

Customers in England will benefit from the majority of the supermarkets, which will be located at petrol stations.

A staggering 310 are set to open across England while Asda fans in Scotland will see 24 new Express shops appear.

Wales will welcome 22 new shops, bringing the total to 356.

It follows the retailer’s acquisition of EG Group’s UK and Ireland business which it acquired in May for £2.27billion.

The deal builds on Asda’s acquisition of 119 convenience sites with attached petrol stations from the Co-op Group last year, as reported by Wales Online.

Asda has already converted 39 of these to Asda Express with the rest expected to be complete the rest by the end of March 2024.

The retailer is now the owner of a total of 478 convenience stores and has plans to roll out further standalone Express stores in locations such as Romford Station and Manchester Oxford Road.

In total, 300 stand-alone convenience sites will be established by the end of 2026.

Stores will sell essentials such as bread, milk, ready made food including lunch deals and staple cooking ingredients.

The small branches will rival the likes of Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local which exist in similar locations near train stations.

In London, for example, residents in Acton will see a new Asda Express store appear next to the Acton Main Line railway station.

The shiny new branch will trade just metres away from a Co-op, Sainsbury’s Local, and Spar petrol station.

A full list of locations is yet to be confirmed by the retailer, though Britons may spot shop windows advertising the arrival of the new branches in their local area.

Express.co.uk has contacted Asda for comment