New Asda chief executive David Potts has started his first official day in the role by telling all 1,100 store managers to open more full-service checkouts and focus on the fundamentals of the shopping trip. The instruction applies with immediate effect across the supermarket's UK estate.
In a message to store managers, Mr Potts outlined three priority areas: opening more full-service checkouts so customers doing bigger shops can get help from a colleague; spending more time on the shop floor supporting colleagues and keeping the store in good shape; and getting more product on shelves, presented well and easy to see and pick up.
First-day message from Pudsey store
Speaking from Asda's store in Pudsey on his first day as CEO, Mr Potts said: "More than anything, Asda shoppers want great value, which is why the business has invested to get back on the pitch when it comes to low prices. But visiting stores as a customer over the last few weeks has shown me we aren't as focused on the rest of the shopping trip as we need to be."
He added: "We're making it harder than it should be for customers to get what they want, move around the store and pay for their shopping. We need to change that, starting now, which is why I've instructed all our general store managers to open more full-service checkouts, spend more time on the shop floor and get more product on shelves and well-presented throughout the day."
Checkout numbers across the estate
Asda said it had around 3,400 full-service checkouts, 8,100 self-scan checkouts and 2,000 scan-and-go checkouts across its 611 Supercentres, Superstores, Supermarkets, Asda Living and George Standalone stores. In addition, it had around 1,300 POS tills and 220 self-service checkouts across its 518 Express stores.
The company confirmed that, with immediate effect, stores will ensure full-service checkouts are open more of the time and always available from at least 8am, alongside self-scan and scan-and-go checkouts with colleagues available to assist. Every store manager has a mobile device enabling them to check stock, co-ordinate deliveries and communicate with colleagues.
Focus on the shopping trip
Mr Potts said: "The shopping trip is everything and by making Asda easier to shop so customers can find what they came for and get through the checkouts easily, they'll come back and shop more with us."
He said he would be out in stores again this week and over the weekend listening to customers to see how the business is doing and ensuring colleagues have what they need to deliver the improvements customers expect.
