13 hours ago
Asda spends £10m on supermarket feature abandoned by its competitors
Asda is set to give its cafes a fresh lease of life with a £10 million refurbishment plan, bucking the trend as other supermarket chains continue to scale down their in-store hot food options for shoppers.
This substantial investment will revamp 180 Asda cafes and introduce an expanded menu selection. Led by Compass, the catering company overseeing the cafes, the revamp kicks off this month with an aim to wrap up by the end of October.
Asda has announced that the refresh will bring a "new look and feel" to its cafes, including digital ordering screens, table service, and the option of a manned till.
The enhanced menu will feature more modern food options such as smashed avocado on toast, katsu chicken curry, topped salad bowls, wraps, and a sharing range with items like nachos and loaded fries.
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Additionally, pizzas, currently available at fresh counters within the stores, will be incorporated into the cafe offerings. Asda's move to upgrade its cafes comes at a time when competitors are reducing their in-store dining options.
Sainsbury's has permanently closed its in-store cafes following the announcement of 61 closures earlier this year.
The UK's second-largest supermarket chain cited a lack of regular use by customers for the closures, noting a rise in popularity for in-store food stalls and concessions instead.
Morrisons is also shutting down 52 of its cafes along with several meat, fish, and hot food counters, stating these changes are part of efforts to "renew and reinvigorate" the brand and focus on areas "customers really value".
It added that operating the services was now more expensive than the revenue generated from customer purchases. Asda's 205 cafes will remain unaffected, with no planned closures on the horizon.
Under the renewed leadership of Allan Leighton, Asda recently pledged to implement its biggest price cuts in 25 years in an attempt to revitalise the struggling chain.
Ian McEvans, Asda's vice president of commercial food, stated that the company had "continued to demonstrate our commitment to our cafes over the years" with initiatives like the "kids eat for £1" meal deal.
He added that cafes were "an important part of the shopping experience for any of our customers".
