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£9m extension for world's best performing superstore
A SOUTH Tyneside superstore is on top of the world after being crowned the best performing branch for the biggest retailer on the planet.
And Asda in Boldon Colliery is set to get bigger and better with a 9m extension, set to create dozens of jobs at the North Road site later this year.
Details are yet to be finalised, but Asda bosses are planning to extend the home and leisure department, and the George clothing section, it was announced yesterday.
The news comes after Asda Boldon was named the best performing supermarket in the world for American giant Wal-Mart over the Christmas period, raking in 5.5m.
Wal-Mart - the most successful retailer on the planet, owns the Asda chain, and each year awards the store that has the highest turnover over the festive season.
And after coming third last year, David Brown, store manager for Asda Boldon, is delighted with the result. He said: "This is fantastic news for all customers and colleagues at Boldon. Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in the world and so to have our store with the biggest sales is incredible.
"We were third the previous year and thanks to the hard work of the colleagues plus maximising the great offers we had on offer helped us move to top spot. We've just have to work harder next Christmas to keep at the top spot.
"2008 will continue to be an exciting year for the store with initial plans for a new mezzanine level being earmarked for later this year. This will increase shop floor space and enhance further customers shopping experience."
With Wal-Mart operations in 15 different countries, Asda Boldon beat off competition from than 4,000 stores in the US and more than 2,900 throughout the rest of the world.
The American company made its name with discount super-stores, and now boast more than 176 million customers around the globe each week.
Mike Parker, spokesman for the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), said: "The fact that they brought in 5.5m over Christmas is just incredible. I think considering it's competing against fellow supermarkets across America, it's an outstanding achievement.
"When you look at the context of the competition they're up against, the fact that they're number one should be applauded."
Workers at the Boldon branch worked tirelessly in the run up to Christmas, and the store was so packed with customers, the staff had to sacrifice breaks and cut down their lunch hours.
Events co-ordinator Tracey Tough says she has never seen it so busy, adding: "It was absolutely manic. The shop was that busy during the Christmas week it was really tough going for the staff, but it was all worth it now.
"We're all ecstatic. Things have been going pretty well of late, and now it's great to hear about the extension."
The expansion plans for Asda Boldon comes four years after bosses spent 18m to extend the store to make it the biggest Asda in North East England.
The Boldon branch is one of the 12 stores in the UK set to be extended in a move expected to create 1,500 jobs nation-wide.
Along with store extensions, Asda bosses are planning to create a further 7,000 jobs in the UK with the opening of between 10 and 12 new superstores and through business expansion, worth in total 400m.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 24 May 2012
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