This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40961381
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Asda sales grow again after three-year slump | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Supermarket chain Asda has reported its first quarterly like-for-like sales growth for three years. | |
| Sales rose 1.8% in the second quarter after a bumper Easter, Asda's owner, Walmart, said. | |
| The figures were boosted by a combination of price cuts, more customers and rising inflation. | The figures were boosted by a combination of price cuts, more customers and rising inflation. |
| Removing the benefit of Easter from the results, Asda's like-for-like sales were 0.7% higher. | Removing the benefit of Easter from the results, Asda's like-for-like sales were 0.7% higher. |
| Last year Asda reported its worst quarterly performance on record when sales tumbled by 7.5%. | Last year Asda reported its worst quarterly performance on record when sales tumbled by 7.5%. |
| Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon said the world's biggest retailer was "encouraged" by the UK result. | |
| "In June, I visited Asda to see the progress being made. Customers are responding to investments in price and store experience by visiting the stores more often and increasing their basket sizes," he said. | "In June, I visited Asda to see the progress being made. Customers are responding to investments in price and store experience by visiting the stores more often and increasing their basket sizes," he said. |
| "There's still much more to be done, but we're clearly headed in the right direction." | "There's still much more to be done, but we're clearly headed in the right direction." |
| Analysis: Emma Simpson, BBC business correspondent | Analysis: Emma Simpson, BBC business correspondent |
| Is Asda finally on the road to recovery? It's been a painful few years. | Is Asda finally on the road to recovery? It's been a painful few years. |
| They're not popping the champagne corks in Leeds just yet. | They're not popping the champagne corks in Leeds just yet. |
| If you strip out the Easter effect, Asda's growth was 0.7% on a comparable basis to last year. | If you strip out the Easter effect, Asda's growth was 0.7% on a comparable basis to last year. |
| And it highlighted this figure in its financial update for good reason. Bosses want to dampen down expectations for the quarters to follow. | And it highlighted this figure in its financial update for good reason. Bosses want to dampen down expectations for the quarters to follow. |
| So how much of this figure is driven by inflation, which is giving a lift to all the supermarkets right now? | So how much of this figure is driven by inflation, which is giving a lift to all the supermarkets right now? |
| Well I'm told that 0.7% would still be positive even if you strip out the effects of inflation at Asda. | Well I'm told that 0.7% would still be positive even if you strip out the effects of inflation at Asda. |
| In other words there's finally some growth in shopper numbers and volumes coming through. | In other words there's finally some growth in shopper numbers and volumes coming through. |
| But Asda's growth is still way behind the other main players. This is a business that's still got a huge amount to do. | But Asda's growth is still way behind the other main players. This is a business that's still got a huge amount to do. |
| Asda is the third-largest UK supermarket chain behind Tesco and Sainsbury's, according to Kantar Worldpanel. | Asda is the third-largest UK supermarket chain behind Tesco and Sainsbury's, according to Kantar Worldpanel. |
| Chief executive Sean Clarke took over from Andy Clarke last summer. | Chief executive Sean Clarke took over from Andy Clarke last summer. |
| His strategy to try to halt falling sales has involved focussing on lowering prices. | His strategy to try to halt falling sales has involved focussing on lowering prices. |
| Asda said that its second quarter had seen "one of its most successful Easter trading periods on record", with total sales up 16%. | Asda said that its second quarter had seen "one of its most successful Easter trading periods on record", with total sales up 16%. |
| Mr Clarke said 275,000 new customers shopped at Asda in the second quarter, but added: "We know we need to continue to up our game to be in the best shape possible." | Mr Clarke said 275,000 new customers shopped at Asda in the second quarter, but added: "We know we need to continue to up our game to be in the best shape possible." |
| In the first quarter the chain suffered a 2.8% sales decline - its eleventh consecutive quarterly drop. | In the first quarter the chain suffered a 2.8% sales decline - its eleventh consecutive quarterly drop. |
| Meanwhile, Walmart reported lower quarterly margins after it cut prices and invested in expanding online sales. The retailer's shares were down 3% in pre-market trading in New York. | Meanwhile, Walmart reported lower quarterly margins after it cut prices and invested in expanding online sales. The retailer's shares were down 3% in pre-market trading in New York. |