New Asda stores create 900 new food jobs in Northern Ireland

The multi-national supermarket chain Asda is planning to invest £65 million to create three new superstores in Northern Ireland. Asda has performed well in the last year, selling over £55 million of locally sourced food in 13 stores across the region, and has boosted Northern Ireland's agri-food sector by almost £60 million in this year alone.

With figures set to improve by 26% next year, Asda are capitalising on their success by planning three new stores in Crumlin, Antrim and Larne, which are expected to create 900 new food jobs. Asda currently employs 3,500 people in the UK, but believes that their Northern Ireland stores are the pinnacle of their achievements.

Asda bosses believe that by meeting their customers' needs and using over 100 local food suppliers in their Northern Ireland, they have created an excellent model for growth, which they hope to use to enhance existing stores as well as adding new branches throughout the region. They also believe that the Northern Ireland model can be applied to all of their stores in the UK.

To honour Asda's contribution to the local economy and job market in Northern Ireland, company bosses were invited to the Parliament buildings for a special 'NI: Good food is in our Nature' event, which was also attended by government ministers and representatives from agri-food sectors.