Hours after EG Group co-founders Mohsin and Zuber Issa were confirmed as Asda’s new owners on Friday, the supermarket giant’s chief financial officer Rob McWilliam summed up their intentions. 

“This transaction is ultimately about growth,” he tells Retail Week, adding that the combination of the Issas, private equity backers TDR Capital, Asda and Walmart – which has maintained a minority stake – “will allow us to take a material step forward for customers, UK suppliers and staff.”

McWilliam pointed to the Issa brothers’ pledge to invest £1bn over the next three years as evidence of that growth focus.