Asda, the UK arm of Wal-Mart, has announced that it will create 6,000 new jobs this year as it opens ten new stores and extends a further ten outlets.

In an announcement ahead of Wal-Mart’s full year earnings release, Asda said that its 2009 performance has been driven by an increase in both customer numbers and average basket spend.

The group’s expansion plans are designed to help fuel growth over the next 12 months, a spokesperson for the company confirmed.

Asda also revealed that its staff would share a “record” GBP26m (US$40.5m) bonus payout this year.

Commenting on the news, Chet Kuchinad, people director at Asda, emphasised that the company was able to announce the bonus payout and job creation despite the “challenging economic environment”.

“We are continuing to recruit on a large scale in 2010, with thousands of new opportunities to join Asda this year,” Kuchinad said.

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Later this morning, when Asda unveils its fourth quarter numbers, the group said it will outline plans to leverage Wal-Mart’s buying power to lower costs, through the US giant’s Global Merchandising Centres.

“We’re putting the right structure in place to generate significant savings to customers over the years ahead, powered by our unique relationship with Wal-Mart,” CEO Andy Bond revealed.

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