When Wal-Mart comes to town, prices come down and stay down

Paul Mason, Asda

The rebuilding of the supermarket, which is expected to create about 250 jobs, will make it the largest in Scotland.

The building of a new store in Dumbarton is also part of the group's £450m investment plans for 2001.

Bosses say the new "supercentre" will feature eight new departments, offering a range of 50,000 products including branded sports equipment, DIY and electrical goods and a bigger George clothing section featuring a George Babyshop.

Overall, 5,000 jobs will be created throughout the UK at 13 new supermarkets.

Asda also plans to extend six existing stores, refurbish a quarter of its sites and open a distribution depot at Bedford, creating 600 jobs.

Five-year expansion

Paul Mason, Asda's chief operating officer, said: "This record level of investment by Wal-Mart in the UK is in line with our strategy of long-term market-share growth and good news for British customers who know that.

"When Wal-Mart comes to town, prices come down and stay down."

Asda has pledged to expand its operation in the UK and create 27,000 jobs over the next five years.

New stores will also be built at Swindon, Bodmin in Cornwall, Hull, Cambridge, Hyde in Greater Manchester, Leyton in east London, Sefton in Liverpool, and Dunstable.

There are also plans to expand existing operations in Dundee.

Asda has 33 stores in Scotland employing more than 12,000 people.