Asda has announced it is to create up to 350 jobs by opening a new store in the Cumbrian town of Workington.
The supermarket giant said it plans to open the branch in town’s Dunmail Park shopping centre by the end of the year.
The new Asda store will take over a 38,000 sq ft sales area in the retail outlet, with existing small shops being moving to new locations. Asda will also re-brand and operate the petrol station at the centre.
Philip Bartram, from Asda, said: “Our plans will create up to 350 new full and part time jobs in the local community and Asda will set up a local employment partnership targeting local job seekers .”
“We are excited to be opening our first store in Workington and we’re looking forward to meeting our new customers later this year.”
Dunmail Park director Bill Dixon added: “The Asda store will massively increase footfall at Dunmail Park, and traders and customers alike will be thrilled by this fantastic news.”
“The world’s largest retail group is showing its confidence in West Cumbria by making this major investment .”
Yesterday it was revealed that Asda was the only one of the “big four” grocery retailers to experience a decline in market share last month.
Latest market share data from industry researcher Kantar Worldpanel showed that Asda’s market share slipped to 16.9 per cent from 17 per cent a year ago – the first drop for more than two years.
