Shoppers planning their final grocery trips of 2025 and first of 2026 are being urged to check their local Asda's schedule, as the retail giant implements special festive opening hours.
Revised Opening Hours for the New Year Period
Asda has adjusted trading times across its estate for the upcoming New Year celebrations. Opening hours can vary significantly from store to store, so customers are advised to use the postcode checker on the Asda website for precise local information.
Based on checks of several locations, a clear pattern has emerged for the chain's larger supermarkets. Most big Asda stores are scheduled to operate from 7am until 7pm on New Year's Eve (Wednesday 31 December 2025). For New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January 2026), the majority will then open from 9am until 6pm.
Asda Express Convenience Stores Operate as Usual
The picture is different for Asda's smaller format shops. Most Asda Express convenience stores are expected to trade as normal over the festive period, with many remaining open 24 hours on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
These Express outlets, often attached to petrol stations, stock up to 3,000 products including essential own-label and branded items like milk and bread. The network has grown rapidly after Asda converted hundreds of former Co-op and EG Group forecourt sites.
Context and Money-Saving Tips for Shoppers
The announcement of festive hours comes after Asda recently revealed that a problematic £1billion IT upgrade had set the business back by an estimated six months. This complex project involved separating over 2,500 legacy systems following the supermarket's 2021 acquisition by the Issa brothers and TDR Capital from Walmart, which retains a 10% stake.
To help customers save money during their shopping trips, consider these practical tips:
- Look out for yellow sticker reductions, especially on New Year's Eve.
- Consider swapping branded goods for supermarket-own labels in a 'Downshift Challenge'.
- Meal plan to use what you already have and freeze leftovers to cut waste.
- Sign up to mailing lists for favourite brands and check voucher code websites.
Always verify the exact times for your nearest store using Asda's official online tool before you travel.
