1 February 2005 – London (UK): Asda, the Wal-Mart owned chain of UK superstores, has announced expansion plans to the tune of £7 million ($13.5 million) to develop its jewellery, optical and photo centre businesses in 2005.
Asda’s plans, which are expected to create up to 800 additional jobs, will mean that 258 of its 274 stores will stock jewellery ranges by the end of the year, the same amount that currently stocks George clothing lines. As many as 85 stores will have optician departments.
The news comes in the wake of the recent announcement by Tesco, the UK’s largest grocer, that it plans to open a trial store selling non-food items such as clothing and electrical goods.
