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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Asda sales rise on strong Christmas | Asda sales rise on strong Christmas |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Asda has reported rising sales in the final months of last year and said it had a strong Christmas trading period. | Asda has reported rising sales in the final months of last year and said it had a strong Christmas trading period. |
| It reported a 0.5% increase in like-for-like sales - the most closely watched measure of sales, which strips out the effect of new stores. | It reported a 0.5% increase in like-for-like sales - the most closely watched measure of sales, which strips out the effect of new stores. |
| It is the third quarter of sales growth for Asda, which had previously seen three years of falling sales. | It is the third quarter of sales growth for Asda, which had previously seen three years of falling sales. |
| Asda is owned by Walmart, which reported a 2.6% increase in like-for-like sales during its fourth quarter. | Asda is owned by Walmart, which reported a 2.6% increase in like-for-like sales during its fourth quarter. |
| However, the US retail giant saw profits fall 42% to $2.2bn (£1.6bn). | |
| Asda credited its low prices and an improved customer experience for its rising sales. | Asda credited its low prices and an improved customer experience for its rising sales. |
| Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon said he was encouraged by the performance, but said there was "more work to do" at Asda. | Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon said he was encouraged by the performance, but said there was "more work to do" at Asda. |
| Bryan Roberts, retail analyst at TCC Global, said the company "played a good game over Christmas". | |
| "During visits, we've seen a marked improvement in service levels and sharper all-round availability," he said. | "During visits, we've seen a marked improvement in service levels and sharper all-round availability," he said. |
| Family focus | Family focus |
| In recent years, Asda has been a laggard among the big supermarket chains. It has also suffered from the growth of Aldi and Lidl, which compete fiercely on price. | In recent years, Asda has been a laggard among the big supermarket chains. It has also suffered from the growth of Aldi and Lidl, which compete fiercely on price. |
| Mr Roberts said these latest results hinted at a return to form. | Mr Roberts said these latest results hinted at a return to form. |
| "In its heyday, Asda really appealed to younger families. Its supermarkets were fun places to be, with layouts designed to delight young children in particular," he said. | "In its heyday, Asda really appealed to younger families. Its supermarkets were fun places to be, with layouts designed to delight young children in particular," he said. |
| "It's lost some of that spirit over the years, but its recent seasonal campaigns - such as at Christmas and Halloween - show it still has that capability in the locker. | "It's lost some of that spirit over the years, but its recent seasonal campaigns - such as at Christmas and Halloween - show it still has that capability in the locker. |
| "A focus on recapturing a year-round family appeal could catalyse its ongoing recovery." | "A focus on recapturing a year-round family appeal could catalyse its ongoing recovery." |
| Headwinds | Headwinds |
| The results from Asda's parent company, Walmart, disappointed some analysts. | The results from Asda's parent company, Walmart, disappointed some analysts. |
| Online sales grew 23% - a sharp slowdown on the previous quarter, when it recorded growth of 50%. | Online sales grew 23% - a sharp slowdown on the previous quarter, when it recorded growth of 50%. |
| Also, the company's forecast for profits this year was below the level some investors were expecting. | Also, the company's forecast for profits this year was below the level some investors were expecting. |
| Walmart has headwinds to contend with. In January, it promised to raise wages, while it is also striving to match Amazon's prices. | Walmart has headwinds to contend with. In January, it promised to raise wages, while it is also striving to match Amazon's prices. |