The group said that it was opening new centres and employing extra staff in response to rising sales.

About 700 jobs will be created at 21 existing Asda centres across the UK.

A further 250 people will be employed at a new general merchandise distribution centre which will open in Leicestershire this month.

New methods

And 300 jobs will be created at a new 'George at Asda' clothing distribution centre opening in September.

In a statement, distribution director David Gibbons said: "We're sending out more product than we had planned every single week and there's no sign of the pace letting up."

The company said it is also in the process of changing its distribution systems to those used by its US parent, Wal-Mart.

According to Asda, the new methods will improve sales forecasting, store orders will be more accurate, and that will mean better availability of goods in the shops.

Asda, which employs about 120,000 people, last week announced plans to open eight new stores in the UK this year and to create seven giant supercentre stores.

In Wal-Mart's first-quarter results, announced last week, the group said the UK had had a "very strong quarter" with sales and operating profits ahead of plan.