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Asda to shun Black Friday sales Asda to shun Black Friday sales
(35 minutes later)
Asda has said it will not take part in this year's shopping discount day known as Black Friday.Asda has said it will not take part in this year's shopping discount day known as Black Friday.
The supermarket says that, after two successful years, "shopper fatigue" has set in "around flash sales on big-ticket, non-essential items at Christmas".The supermarket says that, after two successful years, "shopper fatigue" has set in "around flash sales on big-ticket, non-essential items at Christmas".
Black Friday, a tradition which started in the US, is a day on which some retailers offer large discounts.Black Friday, a tradition which started in the US, is a day on which some retailers offer large discounts.
Last year, police were called in to supermarkets as scuffles broke out.Last year, police were called in to supermarkets as scuffles broke out.
Fights broke out among shoppers vying to get the best deal.Fights broke out among shoppers vying to get the best deal.
Asda's owner, Walmart, is a big player in the Black Friday sales in the US and it first introduced the event to the UK in 2013.Asda's owner, Walmart, is a big player in the Black Friday sales in the US and it first introduced the event to the UK in 2013.
"The decision to step away from Black Friday is not about the event itself," said Asda's chief executive Andy Clarke."The decision to step away from Black Friday is not about the event itself," said Asda's chief executive Andy Clarke.
"Over the last two years we've developed an organised, well-executed plan, but this year customers have told us loud and clear that they don't want to be held hostage to a day or two of sales.""Over the last two years we've developed an organised, well-executed plan, but this year customers have told us loud and clear that they don't want to be held hostage to a day or two of sales."
It says that instead of investing in one-off sales, it will invest £26m in savings across the seasonal shopping period.It says that instead of investing in one-off sales, it will invest £26m in savings across the seasonal shopping period.
October sales 'disappointing'
Retailer John Lewis has previously warned that UK firms would have to reconsider the heavy discounting of Black Friday, even though last year it brought the company its biggest trading week on record.
Earlier this year, managing director Andy Street said it was "more challenging profitability-wise" and questioned whether it was "right to concentrate trade so much in that one period".
"My personal hope is that this is the high water mark for Black Friday. I don't think we can put the genie back in the bottle but do we need to stoke that fire anymore? I personally hope not," he told the BBC.
Separately, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) attributed "disappointing" retail sales in October to customers delaying purchases in anticipation of Black Friday, which this year is due to take place on 27 November.Separately, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) attributed "disappointing" retail sales in October to customers delaying purchases in anticipation of Black Friday, which this year is due to take place on 27 November.
It said the total value of retail sales between 4 October and 31 October was 0.9% higher than a year earlier, down from a 3.9% increase in September.It said the total value of retail sales between 4 October and 31 October was 0.9% higher than a year earlier, down from a 3.9% increase in September.
"October was a somewhat disappointing month overall for retailers," said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC."October was a somewhat disappointing month overall for retailers," said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC.
"A number of categories which we'd typically expect to be popular on Black Friday saw a slowdown in October, suggesting that some shoppers may be holding out in the hope of some great deals at the end of November.""A number of categories which we'd typically expect to be popular on Black Friday saw a slowdown in October, suggesting that some shoppers may be holding out in the hope of some great deals at the end of November."