Asda's 2,000 new jobs as sales rise

A 30% RISE in like-for-like clothing sales during the second quarter of the year at Wal-Mart-owned Asda has led to the 228-strong British supermarkets group recruiting 2,000 full-time and temporary staff in its George fashion sections.

Overall sales were ahead by 'low double digits' in the second quarter, the group said in a trading statement today. Asda is now outperforming former market leaders and rivals Tesco and Sainsbury's, which have recently reported slowdowns in their sales' overall growth.

Half the 1,000 permanent staff have already been recruited by Asda with the remainder likely to be working in its stores by October.

An extensive TV and Press advertising campaign has pushed the sale of George clothes, which were created by former Next designer George Davies, who now supplies the Per Una range of young fashion clothes for Marks & Spencer.