Asda has announced plans to open 300 convenience stores over the next four years as it accelerates the rollout of its new Asda Express concept.
After the supermarket has this week opened its second Asda Express convenience store, the chain confirmed that it plans to open 300 more by the end of 2026, as well as create a whopping 10,000 new jobs, all while “bringing Asda value and products” to even more customers and local communities throughout the UK.
Asda says it is looking to bring the Express concept to customers in convenient neighbourhood and residential settings.
It is particularly targeting those areas where there isn’t an Asda store nearby.
Set to stock around 3,000 products, Asda Express stores are designed to cater for a broad range of customer needs, including ‘top up’ shops for essential items, grabbing a spot of lunch on the go, or buying the fresh ingredients to cook dinner from scratch.
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Not only that, but customers can also enjoy a range of hot and cold ‘food for now’ options from Asda and partner brands like Leon, plus ‘food for later’ choices such as ready meals, pizzas, stir frys, and a selection of £10 meal deals for two people.
Asda has announced plans to open 300 convenience stores over the next four years / Credit: Asda
Asda’s ‘to you’ parcel collection and return services will also be available, as will a rapid delivery service through Uber Eats in some stores.
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“A key part of our growth strategy is to provide customers with more opportunities to shop at Asda closer to where they live or work,” explained Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda.
“With more than three quarters of the UK population visiting a convenience store in the last 12 months, the potential for growth in this market is significant, and our ambition is to become the convenience destination of choice by providing shoppers great value and a comprehensive and convenient range of products and services under one roof.”
The target of 300 Asda Express stores by the end of 2026 does not include the convenience stores that Asda is acquiring from the Co-op.
Featured Image – Asda
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One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
We’re in peak office Christmas party season right now.
With just a week to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.
But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.
The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.
During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.
One in 10 Brits get fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party / Credit: Kraken Images | Mimi Thian (via Unsplash)
There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).
16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.
Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.
Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.
Clearly, the moral of the story here is , enjoy yourself… but just not too much.
Featured Image – The OurWhiskey Company (via Pexels)
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Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets to families who ‘struggle to afford’ a festive day out
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets this Christmas to families who may otherwise struggle to afford a festive day out.
Christmas is a time when many of us feel strapped for cash more than ever before, especially for those families on Universal Credit, which is why Chester Zoo is embracing the season of giving by offering thousands of locals the chance to visit the UK’s largest charity zoo for a fraction of the price of normal entry tickets.
The discounted tickets will be available for anyone claiming Universal Credit on visits from today (18 December) right up until New Year’s Eve (31 December), and they’ll need to be booked online in advance.
This brilliant initiative is a new addition to the zoo’s long-running Community Connections Scheme, which aims to reduce financial barriers to visiting for households and community groups.
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets to families on Universal Credit this festive season / Credit: Chester Zoo
Tickets priced at £1 will be available to people receiving Universal Credit, including claimants of Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Housing Benefit.
Chester Zoo said the scheme is designed to help families on lower incomes enjoy the zoo during the festive period and connect with nature.
“We know that spending time outdoors and around wildlife can have a really positive impact on people, and we hope this helps more families enjoy a special day out together over the festive period, especially when this time of year can be difficult for many,” commented Charlotte Smith, who is Chester Zoo’s Director of Conservation Education.
“We hope this brightens the season for many more households.”