Asda takes on Tesco and Sainsbury’s as it opens new kind of supermarket in UK | UK | News
A major supermarket chain is set to shake up the UK retail scene with the opening of its first Express store. The move kicks off an ambitious expansion nationwide, with plans to open up to 20 additional locations by the end of the year. Retail giant Asda has opened its latest Express store in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Asda claims its new Express format aims to deliver signature low prices and well-known brand deals to areas where the supermarket has previously had limited reach. Asda first entered the grocery industry in 2022 and expansion has accelerated rapidly since then. The chain aims to operate approximately 500 Express stores by the end of the year, with further openings planned for 2026. By comparison, Tesco has around 2,000 Express stores, while Sainsbury’s has around 850.
Located on the site of a former pub on Holywell Lane, the store has been completely redeveloped into a modern, compact supermarket offering more than 3,000 products. The store is also packed with features such as a Costa Coffee machine, ATM and Amazon collection point. Shoppers can even get their groceries delivered via Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo. Shoppers can now pick up everything from ready-made meals to snacks to fresh fruit and drinks, making it easy to get all their essentials in one visit. It is open every day from 6 am to 11 pm.
Each store will also be equipped with electronic shelf-edge labels (essentially digital price tags), aimed at simplifying staff tasks and making prices clearly visible to customers. New places will emerge in dense city centres, transport hubs and residential areas.
Joseph Sutton, Asda’s Vice President of Express, Foodservice and Fuel, said: “We’re delighted to open our doors in Castleford today, marking the beginning of the launch of our Express store as we bring Asda’s unrivaled value to new communities across the UK.”
He added: “From staples to convenient food options, we are excited to welcome new customers and deliver exceptional value.”
This follows Asda’s recent announcement of price reductions on around 1,000 everyday items. Discounts offered both in-store and online cover basic products such as pasta, cooking sauces, tea and coffee.
In addition, from October Asda will implement a major aisle design across 186 stores, following similar moves by three other leading supermarket chains.
