UK supermarket group Asda has confirmed the locations of the new jewellery, photo and optical departments it plans to open before the end of the year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
With 80 pharmacies, 41 photo centres, 41 opticians and 35 jewellery departments already open, ASDA will have over 300 ‘speciality’ units by the end of the year, including:
*new supermarket jewellery departments in another 67 locations bringing the total to over 100;
*an additional 30 opticians across the UK from Wakefield to Wolstanton, bringing the total to over 70;
*an extra 29 photo centres ensuring ASDA has 70 one-hour film and accessory departments by the end of the year.
In contrast to this rapid growth, Asda’s pharmacy expansion plans are effectively on hold pending the outcome of the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) investigation into the way pharmacy dispensing licences are granted. Asda has just opened a non-dispensing pharmacy at its Manchester supercentre and is likely to open only one more standard pharmacy, in Llanelli, this year.
Nevertheless, the OFT is expected to report this Autumn and Asda continues to campaign for an overhaul in opening rules to give patients access to a more pharmacies with lower prices.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“Rapid expansion into new areas means we’re becoming the new department stores of the 21st century,” said Asda’s speciality business unit director David Miles.
