The retailer said the drive would accelerate its c-store growth strategy and put it “firmly on track to reach 1,000 UK stores in total for the first time”.

Asda will convert 109 former convenience stores acquired from the Co-op and EG Group to Asda Express, with one additional “organic opening”, as part of its multi-million-pound investment into c-stores as it aims to overtake Sainsbury’s and become the second-largest grocer in the UK.