Asda, Wal-Mart's UK arm, could create 12,000 jobs over next five years as it expands in Britain; Asda, with 577 stores, is battling with Sainsbury's to be region's No. 2 grocer behind Tesco

Cindy Allen

LONDON , April 7, 2014 (Thomson Reuters Corp.) –  Asda, the British arm of United States retailer Wal-Mart , could create 12,000 jobs as it expands in Britain over the next five years, it said on Monday.

The announcement was made by Doug McMillon, Walmart's president and CEO, during a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron at Asda's Clapham Junction store in south London.

He was speaking ahead of Wal-Mart's first ever board meeting in the UK.

Asda, which is battling with J Sainsbury to be Britain's No. 2 grocer by sales behind market leader Tesco , already runs 577 stores in the country.

It plans to open more superstores, supermarkets, petrol station stores and click-and-collect points, particularly in the south of England where it is relatively under represented compared to rivals.

Asda said in February it would invest 750 million pounds ($1.3 billion) in 2014 in store openings, extensions and refurbishments.

(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Paul Sandle)

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