Walmart CEO says Asda will create up to 12,000 UK jobs in next five years
Walmart has revealed plans to create up to 12,000 jobs at Asda over the next five years.
The announcement came as Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon met with Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday at an Asda supermarket in London’s Clapham Junction.
McMillon, who recently took on the role of Walmart president and chief executive, was in the UK for Walmart’s first ever board meeting to be held in the country.
Following the visit to the store, McMillon said: “It has been a pleasure to meet with the Prime Minister today and reaffirm Walmart’s commitment to investing in the UK. We know that the UK is a great place to do business and since Walmart acquired Asda 15 years ago we have been able to invest £8 billion in the UK economy – creating over 100,000 jobs, opening 342 new Asda stores and bringing lower prices to millions of customers.”
Never Miss a Retail Update!Asda said its five year strategy had the potential to create up to 12,000 new jobs in parts of the country where it did not have a store presence. The supermarket currently employs 172,000 people in the UK and operates 577 stores.
Commenting on the plans, Asda chief executive Andy Clarke told the BBC that the company would be opening stores in the south of the UK, adding: “What a great time to expand. The economy is recovering and we are doing well. We have been focusing on the discount, and the premium, market for some time.”
Clarke said the jobs would be created in superstores, smaller shops and in its online shopping business.
