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Asda plans to create 9,000 jobs | Asda plans to create 9,000 jobs |
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Supermarket firm Asda is to embark on large-scale expansion plans this year and will create 9,000 new jobs and open 22 stores, its chief executive says. | Supermarket firm Asda is to embark on large-scale expansion plans this year and will create 9,000 new jobs and open 22 stores, its chief executive says. |
Asda boss Andy Bond told the BBC that the company plans to create jobs on the shop floor, in the pharmaceutical sector and its home delivery service. | Asda boss Andy Bond told the BBC that the company plans to create jobs on the shop floor, in the pharmaceutical sector and its home delivery service. |
Some 500 jobs are to be at new in-store pharmacies, while 1,500 are part of moves to extend its home delivery arm. | Some 500 jobs are to be at new in-store pharmacies, while 1,500 are part of moves to extend its home delivery arm. |
A day earlier Asda's parent firm Wal-Mart said annual profits rose 8.6%. | A day earlier Asda's parent firm Wal-Mart said annual profits rose 8.6%. |
Wal-Mart bosses said Asda was doing well but would give no detail beyond saying like-for-like sales rose by "mid single digits". | Wal-Mart bosses said Asda was doing well but would give no detail beyond saying like-for-like sales rose by "mid single digits". |
Mr Bond dismissed the idea that the UK was heading for a recession and added that Asda's priority was to keep prices down. | |
The news comes after the Competition Commission released a report last week with suggestions on how to counter problems it perceived in the UK's grocery sector. | |
These included a tougher code of practice over how supermarkets deal with suppliers, and recommendations that local governments perform a "competition test" when deciding whether to give planning permission for new large supermarkets. |