November target for new Asda eco-store

Feb 21 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

ASDA’S new £16m environmentally friendly superstore planned for Bootle will be open in November, the company said yesterday.

The outlet, which will see the creation of around 500 jobs, is the latest of the supermarket group’s “high efficiency” stores which it is claimed are 50% more energy- efficient than one of its typical outlets.

Sited near to Bank Road and Strand Road, the store will comprise a total of 40,000 sq ft.

The new opening forms part of a massive expansion programme for the group in 2008 and beyond which will see 9,000 new jobs created across the UK through store openings and extensions.

Around 7,000 jobs will be created over the next 12 months through the opening of between 10 and 12 new superstores, 10 Living stores and 12 extensions to existing outlets. In addition to this, a further 1,500 jobs will be created through the expansion of Home Shopping and Asda Direct.

The continued roll-out of Asda’s pharmacy business will create 500 new jobs, through the opening of 50 new Asda in-store pharmacies.

This growth will create over 100 pharmacist positions and 400 new colleague jobs and take the number of Asda pharmacies from 147 to almost 200.

In a statement about the Bootle store, Asda said: “Due to open in November this year, the timber-framed store boasts a host of sustainable features, including, recycled bricks, a recycled aluminium roof, rainwater harvesting and natural lighting.”

The building also will feature timber cladding while the roof will have a zig-zag appearance incorporating solar panels.

The expansion comes a day after Asda said it had exceeded sales and profit targets for the 2007 financial year. Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, increased by “mid-single digits”, while total sales growth was in the high single digits.

Asda currently operates from 345 stores in total, including 13 Asda Living shops and 12 George high street outlets.

Asda chief financial officer Judith McKenna said: “We have an impressive track record of regenerating areas at the edge of and in town centres throughout the UK, showing our ongoing commitment to local communities.”

tonymcdonough