Supermarket brand Asda is to open a new store in Ellesmere Port this week.

The conversion of the former Spar shop at the Shell petrol station in Whitby Road into an Asda Express is part of the superstore's growth mission and put it firmly on track to reach 1,000 UK stores in total for the first time.

It will be Asda's second store in Ellesmere Port, alongside the existing supercentre in Grange Road, when it opens on February 8.

The supermarket is converting 109 former convenience stores acquired from the Co-op and EG Group to Asda Express this month (with one additional organic opening), as part of a multi-million pound investment and its commitment to become the second largest grocery retailer in the UK.

Also being converted to an Asda Express this month is the Asda on the Move store at the Esso petrol station on Tarvin Road, Christleton, Chester. Asda Express stores are wholly owned and operated by Asda, while Asda On the Move convenience sites were owned and operated by EG Group.

The supermarket brand says customers shopping for groceries at Asda Express can expect to save an average of eight per cent compared to the former Co-op stores and 15 per cent in comparison to the former EG Group convenience sites.

Asda continues to deliver on its programme to convert all 470 convenience sites acquired from the Co-op and EG Group to Asda Express before the end of March. The supermarket had converted 259 sites by the end of January, in addition to the eight organic Asda Express sites already open. 

They include the former Co-op store in Handbridge, Chester, which was recently converted into an Asda Express.

The record number of openings in February will also bring Asda’s combined supermarket and convenience estate to its biggest in its 58-year history.

Andy Perry, Asda’s Vice President of Convenience, said: “Asda’s significant investment in building a nationwide chain of convenience stores is a key component of our long-term strategy to become the number two player in UK grocery.

"February is a transformational month for programme with a record number of store openings and conversion of all former Co-op sites to Asda Express sites.

"he teams have worked at pace to reach this point and we look forward to bringing Asda’s quality and low prices to many more communities across the UK.”

The Asda Express stores will stock up to 3,000 branded and own-label products to suit a broad range of customer needs including ‘top up’ shops for essential items such as milk and bread, grabbing lunch on the go or cooking dinner from scratch.