Asda is expanding the number of greengrocers in its stores, and expects the offering to reach 250 branches from next month.
The supermarket first confirmed in September 2021 that it would appoint 150 specialist greengrocers in stores across the UK.
But in a new interview with The Sunday Times this weekend, the billionaire Issa brothers and owners of Asda confirmed this service would be available in a further 100 stores.
It would take the total number of branches with in-store greengrocers to 250 from April.
The main job of an in-store greengrocer is to oversee quality standards and check product availability, as well as maintaining presentation of the produce area.
The new roles are based on the shop floor, with the supermarket previously saying it expects the jobs to be filled by both existing staff and new hires.
It comes as part of a huge £9million investment to boost the fresh offerings available in Asda.
This includes investing in giving customers a wider choice of premium fruit and vegetables from its luxury ‘Extra Special’ range.
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“The fresh produce section is one of the most popular locations in our stores and more than half of our best-selling lines by volume are generated from this area,” said Asda’s managing director of fresh produce, Mike Snell.
“We know how proud our colleagues are about product quality and store standards and we are making this investment to enhance the experience our customers receive when shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables.”
The first greengrocers were hired in stores from October.
It comes after rival Sainsbury's confirmed it will close 200 of its in-store cafes, along with the shut down of its less popular hot food counters in 34 stores.
Sainsbury's will also “simplify” the way it runs its bakery counters in 54 stores from next month as well.
The Big Four grocer already cut 1,150 jobs under a restructuring last March.
Sainsbury's told The Mirror that out of the 200 cafes that are closing, 140 will remain shut, 30 will become a Starbucks and 30 will become Restaurant Hubs.
Meanwhile, Tesco confirmed it plans on scrapping hundreds of jobs as it axes deli and hot food counters in stores across 317 stores.
The supermarket chain is also set to ditch its discount store Jack's, which was launched in 2018, putting 130 jobs in head office at risk.
The news from Tesco was announced in January 2022.
