Asda tests wholesale convenience model with Scotland launch
The retailer has opened a three-store pilot with One-O-One, marking its entry into wholesale supply for independent convenience operators.
Asda has launched a new wholesale convenience store model through a pilot partnership with Scottish retailer One-O-One, marking the group's first move into wholesale supply for independent operators.
The trial will initially cover three convenience stores in Glasgow operating under the new Asda Convenience banner. The pilot is designed to test how independent retailers can run Asda-branded stores while offering the retailer’s products, pricing strategy and customer proposition in local communities.
Backed by a £1 million investment, the initiative is separate from Asda’s company-owned Asda Express network and has been developed specifically to support wholesale partnerships. Each store will carry around 3,500 products, including own-brand items, fresh and chilled groceries, and food-to-go options. The retailer said the pilot will help refine the format before considering a wider rollout across the UK.
Joseph Sutton, Asda’s Express, Fuel & Wholesale Director, described the launch as “an important step in extending our reach and making Asda’s great value accessible to more customers in the way they want to shop today.”
He added: “By partnering with experienced independent retailers, we can combine our product range, pricing and supply chain strengths with their local expertise to create a truly compelling offer.”
One-O-One, which operates convenience stores across Scotland’s Central Belt, was selected as the first partner for the new format. Paul Stirling, Group Retail Director at One-O-One, said the collaboration combines the retailer’s local market knowledge with Asda’s pricing and product range.
The Glasgow stores will serve as a testing ground for the concept as Asda evaluates the performance of its wholesale strategy.
