Asda

10/08/2025

Home delivery driver Ray from our Hereford store didn't hesitate when he heard that a flat was on fire with someone inside – running to the scene, dealing with the fire and leading the man to safety.

Ray – a former paratrooper who served in the Falklands War – had just pulled over to make a delivery when he saw a young woman in the street trying to raise the alarm. He told her to call the fire service and ambulance and went to see if he could help. He said: "Luckily, the front door was open. There was a lot of smoke so I covered my face with a towel and went into the kitchen and saw a saucepan on fire on the cooker. I got a tea towel and put it over the flame, put it into the sink and put water on it. Then I opened all the windows in the kitchen to let the smoke out, then went into the lounge to open the windows in there ... and that's when I saw the man sitting down in a chair, bless him.

"By that time the neighbour opposite had come across and he helped me get the gentleman, who has mobility issues, to his feet and we led him out of the building, where it was safe. He was coughing a bit, but was okay thankfully. The fire brigade came first and went in and checked it all out and then the ambulance crews arrived and checked the gentleman over. I was fine – it was all over in a jiffy really. I don't dare to think about what could have happened I hadn't have turned up when I did. If anyone is in trouble, I will help and I hope people would do the same for me."

Store manager James said: "Ray showed extraordinary bravery and a deep sense of humanity walking into a house where a fire had started in the kitchen and helping to evacuate a person inside. He showed tremendous courage on that day and we are all blown away by his actions."

08/08/2025

When a distraught young mum ran into our Carcroft store after accidentally locking her baby daughter in her car Asda colleagues Paul, Katie and Tracie immediately sprang into action to help.

The lady had popped into the store with her daughter to buy some nappies. When she returned she put the baby in the car’s child seat, but inadvertently left the keys on the back seat and when she closed the door the locking system kicked in. She quickly alerted security colleague Paul, who ran to nearby Central Motors to get help. A mechanic – a regular customer at the store – followed him to the car park and managed to open the door, much to everyone’s relief.

The baby was absolutely fine, and the lady later wrote to the store to say thank you. She wrote: "I ran inside distraught and Paul went above and beyond to get help while Tracie kept my girl distracted and Katie was very lovely and gave me so much comfort. I just think they are some absolutely amazing staff to have working for the company. Within half an hour my girl was out and having a cuddle."

Paul said: “I’m just glad we got the baby out and she was okay. Thankfully it happened early in the morning so it was quite cool.”

05/08/2025

Home shopping driver Daz from our Weston-super-Mare store was only too happy to assemble a new wheelchair for one of our older customers when he dropped off her groceries.

The wheelchair had been delivered to her flat earlier that morning but it was just left in the middle of the lounge in its box, making it difficult for her to manoeuvre around with her zimmer frame. Daz said: “I asked the lady if she would like me to put it together as it was no trouble. It really didn’t take that long. I then took the cardboard box to her recycling bin for her too. She was very grateful as was her son, who she was talking to on the phone while I was building it. It was just the right thing to do, I couldn’t just leave it there unopened in the middle of the floor as she was struggling to get around it.”

The customer's family were so grateful that they posted on Tripadvisor to say: “Daz was so kind. He went above and beyond the call of duty. Extremely helpful." Store manager Kelly, who's nominated Daz for an Asda service superstar award, said: "We are so proud of him. The customer was blown away by his kindness."

03/08/2025

"He's amazing, he's my hero" – that's what Asda Thornaby customer Linda said about porter Michael after he helped her when she fell and even pushed her home in one of the store's wheelchairs.

Michael, who's worked at the store for 39 years, said: "I was outside by the trolley bay and I saw Linda fall over. She'd bumped her face, hand and had a bloody nose. She didn't want any first aid or any fuss – she just wanted to go home. So I got one of our wheelchairs and pushed her home, which is about ten minutes away. We just chatted as we went along. I took her into the house, making sure she was comfortable and safe, and contacted some neighbours who said they'd keep an eye on her."

Linda came back into the store the next day to thank Michael. She said: "It was such a very kind thing. I can't thank Michael enough, he saved the day. He was amazing, my hero. I was a bit shook up but didn't think it was too bad at the time, but I did end up with two black eyes.”

01/08/2025

A huge well done to pharmacist Faisal and home and leisure colleague Ben from our Shipley store who both performed CPR on a customer and saved his life.

The man, who's in his 30s, was in the store pharmacy when he stopped breathing and had no pulse. Faisal called 999 and while he was talking to the call handler he saw the man's condition was deteriorating, so started chest compressions. Ben, who's recently completed his first aid training, came to help, and they took it in turns performing CPR.

Faisal said: "I'd done first aid training in the past but this was the first time I'd carried out CPR on an actual person, rather than a dummy. It was such a relief when he came round as I was scared for him. It was scary and nerve wracking but I felt content and happy that I'd helped someone." Ben said: "It was a bit daunting as I'd only just finished the first aid course. The CPR training was still very fresh in my mind – I just didn't think I'd be using it so soon!"

A GP also came to help and an ambulance crew took the gentleman's vitals and took him to hospital. After tests the gentleman was released from hospital and has been into the store since. He has no recollection of the incident. The store's community champion Mandy said: "It was a scary moment for them both but they did so well. If it wasn't for them keeping him alive until the ambulance arrived the gentleman would not be with us now, so a big well done to them both. They are true life savers."

30/07/2025

I spent a lovely afternoon helping to run a craft session at Waterlooville Library - Hampshire County Council. The children had great fun creating their caterpillar and cutting out the leaf, complete with holes for the caterpillar to crawl through.

Crafting is thirsty work, so our store donated both flavoured and plain water, alongside snack packs of dried fruit, which went down a treat.

Whilst we were cutting and sticking, I chatted with some of the children about the library’s Summer Reading Challenge and discovered that some of them had already completed it and received their certificate and sustainable medal. The challenge doesn’t finish until 13th September, so there’s still plenty of time to sign up and complete it.

The library has a host of free activities to keep little ones occupied over the summer holiday, so pop along and get your children involved.

Jacqui - community champion

28/07/2025

Asda community champion Diane has formed a close bond with regular customer Nora over the years as she helps her with her shopping at our Blyth store every week – so when she heard that Nora's 90th birthday was approaching she and her colleagues pulled out all the stops to give her a fantastic day.

Nora doesn't have any relatives living nearby, so Diane put out an appeal on Facebook for people to drop off birthday cards for her at the store. When Nora called in on her birthday Diane took her shopping as usual, while colleagues sang Happy Birthday, as they made their way round the store, before revealing that colleagues had organised a whip-round to pay for her shopping. They stopped for a cup of tea in the store restaurant, before Jo and Dale from the nearby Buffalo Community Centre brought in flowers and cards from children who use the centre and Rachel from Rainblo Designs visited with a personalised balloon for her.

Diane said: "We had customers dropping off presents and cards for Nora all week. She's a lovely lady and we wanted to do something special on her big day." Nora said: "I'm so grateful, I can't thank them enough. I was so taken aback. It was absolutely wonderful. Customers were even coming up to me and saying happy birthday. I got more than 50 birthday cards from people and the messages were lovely. The cards from the children were a joy, I got a bit tearful."

27/07/2025

Congratulations Lionesses 🦁🦁🦁

So good, so good, so good! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Our stores in England are showing their support for the Lionesses as they prepare to take on Spain in the big match. 🦁🦁🦁

Colleagues at our Boston store are among those who've been supporting Sarina Wiegman and the team throughout their rollercoaster ride in the championships, which has included dramatic comebacks against Sweden and Italy. Colleagues at our stores have been wearing England's colours, our pizza counter teams have been getting creative and the stores have been decked with the flags of St George and bunting.

Come on England! You can do it! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

27/07/2025

Our stores in England are showing their support for the Lionesses as they prepare to take on Spain in the big match. 🦁🦁🦁

Colleagues at our Boston store are among those who've been supporting Sarina Wiegman and the team throughout their rollercoaster ride in the championships, which has included dramatic comebacks against Sweden and Italy. Colleagues at our stores have been wearing England's colours, our pizza counter teams have been getting creative and the stores have been decked with the flags of St George and bunting.

Come on England! You can do it! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

23/07/2025

At the weekend, we welcomed Hampshire Cosplay For Charity to the store to support our Tickled Pink campaign, and boy did they put the fun into fundraising!

They delighted our customers by causing their usual mayhem, put lots of smiles on lots of faces, and collected an amazing £278 for our partner charities Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!

A huge thank you to them all for giving up their time to raise both funds and awareness, and also to our ever generous customers for their donations.

Jacqui - community champion

22/07/2025

A huge thank you to the lovely ladies at Knit and Natter for making another stunning topper for our letter box.

We received so many positive comments from customers about the previous topper, and I’m sure this one will be just as popular.

Knit and Natter are a friendly group that meet on Tuesdays from 2pm - 4pm at the hall next to St. George's Church. If you fancy a chat and a cuppa whilst crafting, then pop along; you’re guaranteed to receive a warm welcome.

Jacqui - community champion

22/07/2025

A huge thank you to off-duty nurse Katie, her 10-year-old daughter Charlotte and Asda colleague Lee for looking after a customer who collapsed with chest pains in our Cannock store.

They looked after her until paramedics arrived, closing off the aisle to give her some privacy. Lee said: "The paramedics checked her over and took her to hospital. She's been back to the store since and she's looking better. Katie was brilliant, a real superstar. She didn't have to stay there and help. Her daughter was fantastic too. She was just so calm and patient."

Store manager Lal invited Katie and Charlotte back into the store so he could present them with flowers and a goodie bag to thank them. He also nominated Lee for an Asda service superstar award. Lal said: "It's heartwarming to know that our customers are willing to support other members of our community. Lee always shows kindness towards our customers in particularly in his role as a first aider. We are proud of him."

20/07/2025

Community champion Donna from our Gateshead store will be dividing her time between the supermarket aisles and the church aisles after she was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England.

Donna, who's worked for Asda for 23 years, was ordained by acting Bishop of Durham The Right Reverend Sarah Clark in a ceremony at Durham Cathedral. She is working in the parishes of Blaydon, High Spen and Rowlands Gill and can now conduct services, baptisms and funerals. In another year she can marry people and distribute communion.

Donna said: "I've always gone to church since I was a baby and I've always had a faith. The work I do with Asda does cross over with what I'll be doing with the church – looking after people, helping people and supporting people. Some of the charities I work with are in my new parishes. I love what I do as a community colleague. I'm a people person and it all blends together."

19/07/2025

Congratulations to 17-year-old learner driver Ruby who's won free fuel worth up to £1,500 for the next 12 months after finding one of our golden tickets while shopping in our Middlesbrough store with her mum, Emma.

Ruby – who found the ticket hidden on a shelf near the eggs – said: "I'm still in shock. I saw it on the shelf and I picked it up just to be nosey. I couldn't believe that I've won. I've just got my first car so this will help so much. I'll be able to fill up with fuel now without worrying or having to ask my mum and dad and draining them!"

As part of our year-long celebrations to mark our landmark 60th birthday, we've hidden 40 golden tickets in stores across the UK. Between now and the end of the August bank holiday weekend, colleagues will be secretly hiding the tickets and awaiting the lucky winners.

18/07/2025

Just days after finishing his A-Levels and starting work at our Bangor store 18-year-old Kyle made a lasting impression on a deaf customer who needed help at the checkouts.

The gentleman was trying to communicate and was surprised when Kyle responded using sign language – something he'd learned as a young boy due to his grandad being deaf. Kyle, who will begin studying criminology at Ulster University in September, said: "I learned how to sign at the same time I learned how to speak, so it just comes naturally to me. It was a small thing, but it felt good to be able to help – the customer seemed quite taken aback when I was able to assist him, and he gave me a big thumbs up before he left the store.”

Store manager Anthony said: “For someone so new to the team to show that level of customer service initiative and care is just fantastic. His ability to communicate in sign language not only surprised and helped the customer feel seen and supported, but it also reflects the kind of inclusive environment and extra levels of customer service we strive for at Asda."

16/07/2025

With the academic year coming to an end, we’re relaunching our school uniform drive.

If you have any clean, undamaged uniform that you no longer need, please consider popping it in the trolley that’s located in the foyer, next to the flowers.

All donated items will be passed on to Growing Places community, who through their Second Bloom project, will ensure that they go to families that are struggling.

Jacqui - community champion

15/07/2025

For the last couple of years, I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to Woodcroft Primary School - Lovedean’s Year 6 leavers assembly. Unfortunately, I’m unable to attend this year due to prior commitments, so class teacher Mr D invited me to their final rehearsal today, ahead of tomorrow’s assembly.

I naively thought I wouldn’t cry this year, and I managed not to until the very end, when they performed their leavers song!

Year 6 - it’s been an absolute privilege to work with you over the last 7 years, and watch you grow and develop. Good luck with your new adventure at your respective secondary schools - I know you’ll smash it!

Jacqui - community champion

15/07/2025

Well done to checkouts colleague Shirley from our Hunts Cross store who looked after a diabetic customer whose blood sugars were very low and needed a glucose boost.

She noticed that the customer looked unwell and, after he said his blood sugars were low, quickly took him to our cafe and got him an orange juice, and sat with with him until he'd fully recovered.

Judith, the store's customer trading manager, has nominated Shirley for an Asda service superstar award. She said: "This shows how much our colleagues care for our customers daily and respectfully as the gent did not want to make a fuss, and I think Shirley handled the situation expertly."

13/07/2025

An 85-year-old widower was devastated when he lost his wedding ring while shopping in our Rawtenstall store – and when he hadn't got it back a year later he'd given up hope of seeing it again.

But customer services colleague Janet, who he'd reported the missing ring to at the time, saved the day when she spotted a wedding ring in the store's lost and found safe and worked out it must have been his. She was delighted to hand it back to him the next time he came into the store.

Janet said: "He was proper made up! If I hadn't been sorting through the items on that particular day then he'd probably never got his ring back as another colleague may not have made the same connection."

The gentleman, who's a regular at the store, said: "I thought I'd lost it for good and I didn't think I'd see it again. I can't thank her enough."

12/07/2025

Former Lioness Carly Telford is urging customers to pop into their in-store Asda Pharmacy to have a free blood pressure check during this summer's football after research found that the excitement of watching matches could be pushing up our blood pressure!

Carly, whose parents both used to work at our Stanley store, said: “As a goalkeeper, I’ve faced plenty of high-pressure moments on the pitch – my heart racing when the game’s on the line. It can feel the same for fans too; we’re a nation passionate about football. This tournament is the perfect reminder that keeping an eye on your blood pressure is vital, so I’m proud to support this Asda Pharmacy initiative and encourage everyone to pop in for a quick, free check-up.”

11/07/2025

Asda customer Christine had been lying on the floor of her home for two hours after breaking her pelvis in a fall, but kept her spirits up with the knowledge her regular delivery driver Steve from our Dunfermline store would be calling round soon.

Christine cried out when she heard Steve approaching the front door. He called 999 and made sure Christine was as comfortable as possible, before making her a drink, unpacking her shopping and moving her garden furniture to clear a path for the ambulance crew. Steve said: "She told me she’d fallen an hour or two earlier and hadn’t been able to get up or reach her phone to call for help, but she knew she was due to get her Asda delivery and that I’d be on my way."

Christine said: "I wasn’t sure how long I would be stuck there, but just kept thinking ‘Asda’s coming soon, Asda’s coming soon’, and it gave me some hope. It was just a wee miracle when Steve arrived with my shopping. And you know, I’m doing alright – I’m managing to get around the house, but it’ll take a long time to fully heal. I’m just so thankful he arrived when he did, he was so good, and the flowers from everyone at Asda were just lovely."

Steve, who called in to check on Christine after she left hospital, said: "I used to be RAF cabin crew, so it’s instinct for me to care for and look after people around me or people in trouble. I didn’t think anything of it, it’s just what anyone should do in these situations.”

10/07/2025

Yesterday, I visited Purbrook Junior School to support the bread tasting session that Year 4 had as part of their Design Technology unit.

I took along a variety of bread lines for the children to try, and we discussed each bread’s appearance, smell, flavour and texture, which was recorded in their workbook. The children then recorded which bread was their favourite, and the reason why. Finally, we had a class vote, with the clear favourite being pitta.

A huge thank you to Mrs Gray for inviting me to support the session.

Jacqui - community champion

08/07/2025

Throughout July community champions from Asda stores across the UK will be teaming up with local groups to clean up their communities and help people to come together and take pride in where they live.

One of our colleagues taking part is Shiona, from our Forfar store, who's joining forces with the team from Gallowshade Community Hall to organise a community clean up and litter pick.

Shiona said: “We’re really proud to be take an active role in cleaning up our area, and making the most of the place we live. It is a great opportunity for us to give something back to our local community, and it’s amazing what a positive difference a few hours, some teamwork and a few bin bags can make. Everyone who gets stuck in usually has a bit of fun while we’re at it."

06/07/2025

Five-year-old Alfie was beaming when he had VIP tour of our Belvedere store where his Nanny Cheryl and Auntie Katie both work – and now every day after he finishes school he puts on his name badge and lanyard and clocks in to work at his toy Asda at home.

Alfie has a rare genetic condition called microdeletion syndrome which causes global development delay. He has trouble communicating verbally and uses sign language. He regularly visits the store with Cheryl and grandad Derek, and after the store's community champion Kuia heard how much he loves everything to do with Asda, she invited him in for a special behind the scene tour.

Cheryl said: "He absolutely loved his special visit, and smiled all the way round. He got to make a pizza, sat in a van and got to say hello over the Tannoy. Colleagues were interacting with him and gave him things to scan on the checkouts, which he loved. We couldn't get him off. When we left he gave Kuia a big hug in the car park to say thank you. Every time he comes home from school now, the lanyard comes on and he buzzes the door like he's clocking in. He's really sweet. He loves the Asda T-shirt too."

Kuia said: "Alfie is such a lovely little boy and smiled all the way round."

04/07/2025

This week, we sent another 5 totes of donated books to Children's Book Project. This brings the total number of books sent from our store (yes, I really do count them as I’m sorting and boxing!) to an amazing 3018!

Children’s Book Project is on a mission to eradicate book poverty by reusing preloved children’s books and giving them to children who have few, if any of their own. To date, Asda has passed on over 250,000 books to the charity.

Thank you to our customers and colleagues for being so generous and thinking of others - the pre loved books you donated will be loved all over again by their new owners.

If you have any fiction or non-fiction books for 0-14 years that are in good condition, please put them in the donation trolley, which is located in the foyer. Please remember we cannot accept;
- Academic books
- Foreign language books
- Religious books
-Ex-library books
- Adult books
- Tatty, damaged, scribbled in or yellowed books

Jacqui - community champion

04/07/2025

"You brighten our day with your kindness" – that's what the mum of a five-year-old autistic boy said about checkouts colleague Howard from our Barry store.

She got in touch with us to say how special Howard had made them feel while doing their shopping with us recently. She said: "My little lad is autistic, doesn't cope well at all shopping and I always get quite anxious doing the big food shop as having him in the trolley too long can be very overwhelming for him and he can be fine one minute and the next he can have a meltdown. Howard is so lovely to myself and to my son and he remembers our names since the first time we saw him. He doesn't make me feel rushed at all when the shopping's going on the conveyor belt, always chatty to myself and my little boy and he really makes us feel at ease whilst doing the shop. He is a fantastic member of staff and he should be recognised for how great his people skills. He has absolutely fantastic customer service."

Howard said: "The comments from the lady were lovely. I just talk to the little boy, make him feel involved, and make him comfortable. Distraction techniques work wonders. I love my job and I love meeting people, I'm a very people-oriented person. I like to chat to people and build a rapport with them. My aim is to make everyone special. A smile costs nothing and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. I just do what I do the way I do it because it's the way I'd like to be served myself."

01/07/2025

When a customer at our Derby store had trouble picking up a parcel Asda colleague Lesley went out of her way to deliver it to the customer's home herself.

The lady had come into store to pick up an item but unfortunately the parcel gun was having technical difficulties and she wasn't able to wait while the problem was being fixed. Once the machine was back up and running, Lesley located the parcel and noticed that the customer didn't live too far from her own house so decided to deliver it to her personally.

Rosie, the store's community champion, said: "The customer was absolutely blown away, saying she never in her life expected Lesley to personally deliver it to her house and was simply going to go back another day. Well done Lesley, you really are a superstar and a credit to Asda."

29/06/2025

When one of our older customers was having difficulty installing a new microwave that she'd had delivered Michelle from our Portsmouth store went round to her house to get it up and running for her.

The customer is a regular visitor to the store and while they were chatting at the customer service desk where Michelle works she told Michelle that it was too heavy for her to lift.

Michelle said: "For about a week I kept asking her about it and she said it still hadn't been sorted so I said that if it was okay with her, I'd call round to her on the way to work and set it up for her, and that's what I did. It didn't take too long and I went through some of the instructions with her so she knew how to use it. She was over the moon. When she comes in now she tells me what nice meals that she's made with it. It was just the right thing to do. If my nan was in a similar situation I'd hope that someone would do the same for her."

27/06/2025

When a man's car broke down on a hot day and his elderly dog was struggling in the heat, Sue from our Eastleigh store stepped in and drove them both home.

Gemma, the store's George section manager, pictured here with Sue, said: "He'd walked to the store to use a phone to call a taxi as he didn't have a mobile on him. He wanted to get his dog home and out of the heat and then he was going to phone a breakdown service and his son. However, the taxi that came to pick him up couldn't take him because of his dog and he'd been waiting an hour for another one to come.

"We got his dog some water and I spoke to Sue about this lovely man's predicament and she immediately offered to take him home herself. She didn't hesitate. The man lives not too far from the store and she said it would be absolutely no trouble. Sue is a wonderful person. She always treats her customers to amazing service, and on this occasion she gave a little extra.

"Sue is an animal lover too and didn't want them both suffering in the heat any longer. It was only a 10-minute journey, but the man was so grateful to Sue for looking after them and getting them home."

24/06/2025

Colleagues at our Thornaby store have been amazed by the fundraising of six-old-year Lennon who called in with his mum Chloe, dad Luke and grandma Clare to buy £575 worth of groceries and essential supplies for Thornaby Food Bank – the food bank supported all year by the store.

Lennon raised the money by taking part in the Ali Brownlee 2km run in Middlesbrough with dad Luke. The youngster did a similar thing last year and raised £700 for the foodbank. Chloe said: "We are so, so proud of him. Every time there's an advert on the telly he wants to donate. He just wants to help people and is very kind. The team at Asda knew what we were doing and helped and one of the managers even got Lennon a toy for all his fundraising which was cute. We went straight to the food bank after shopping and they were over the moon. Lennon helped to unload the car and helped to bring it all in."

The store's community champion Abbie said: "Lennon is a brilliant lad and so caring. It warmed our hearts to see such a young lad be so loving and kind. Well done Lennon and thank you. This is what community is about."

23/06/2025

Today, we have Claire from Switched On Portsmouth instore.

She’s here to offer energy support and advice, information on free home upgrade grants and also has some free energy saving equipment.

Claire will be with us until 3pm, so if you’re in the area, pop in and have a chat with her to see how you could reduce your energy bills.

Jacqui - Community Champion

20/06/2025

When one of our older customers told delivery driver Andrew from our Corby store that she needed to post a birthday card for her great-grandson but wasn't feeling well he immediately offered to do it for her.

The lady's grand-daughter was so grateful to Andrew that she posted on the Facebook group Original Corby Chats Back to thank him, saying: "I would like to put on here how helpful and kind Asda delivery drivers based at Corby are ... After he posted it he called her to let her know that he'd done it. What a wonderful person to do this on what I can imagine is a long work day."

Andrew has now been nominated for an Asda service superstar award for his kindness with senior Asda director Sam Carolan saying: "Andrew’s care and thoughtfulness perfectly reflect the values we strive to promote at Asda — going the extra mile, looking after our customers, and making a real difference in their lives."