Asda has returned from the "relative doldrums" of six to nine months ago and is now outtrading the rest of the industry, said analysts as Wal-Mart released its half-year results this week. Parent company Wal-Mart does not publish separate figures for its subsidiary companies but said Asda's like-for-like sales growth for the six months to July 31 was in the "high single digits", while total sales growth was in the "low double digit range". The figures tally with the latest market share data from Taylor Nelson Sofres, which said Asda had achieved growth in July "approaching levels not seen for a year". In an analysis of the TNS figures, broker Schroder Salomon Smith Barney said Asda's implied sales growth was "running at almost 14%". June like-for-like sales at Asda reached double digits. One analyst said: "Asda is clearly doing well again. To a certain extent it is riding on the inflationary tide, but it has definitely picked up since Christmas." Asda attributed its success to strong food sales, which it claims grew at twice the level of the sector based on Taylor Nelson's Retailer Share Track data. TNS confirmed Asda's food sales were roughly double the sector average of 7% growth for July. New customers boosted the top line with 500,000 additional shoppers since the start of the year taking weekly customer tally to over 8.1 million. George clothing generated like-for-like sales in the "low teens". The conversion to Wal-Mart systems is progressing to plan, with 70% of the 246-strong store portfolio converted and the remainder due for completion by the end of the year. Asda also announced plans to upgrade 80 of its entertainment departments by Christmas with a 50% increase in the range of DVDs, software and music, new CD listening posts, large screens and display units. The retailer claims it now accounts for over two-thirds of supermarket sales of computer games. {{NEWS }}

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