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Asda wants expansion rules eased
17 Feb 2009ASDA today called on the Government to overhaul planning rules to make it easier to expand in deprived areas.
The supermarkets group, owned by US giant Wal-Mart, says it is hindered by regulations that prevent it from building new stores in areas that need more competition.
The call came as Asda unveiled a 7.2% rise in like-for-like sales in the last three months of 2008. All supermarkets have done well from the recession but Morrisons and Asda are top of the pile.
Chief executive Andy Bond said: “We are ready to invest in dozens of deprived areas up and down the country, places that would benefit from our low prices and investment into their communities. But the planning system works against us.”
