Asda shares update on Birmingham city centre plans after Tesco announcement

Days after Tesco confirmed it will open a new supermarket in Birmingham city centre, Asda has shared an update on its plans for a new shop just over the road.

A premise licence application for a new Tesco store in Sheepcote Street, just off Birmingham Broad Street, was granted back in December 2021, however work has yet to start almost three years later.

But Tesco bosses reassured locals last week that the opening was still going ahead, saying: "We remain committed to opening a new store on Sheepcote Street and will update the local community as soon as we can."

Read more: Popular Bullring store that closed down opens new Aladdin's cave shop

Now, rival Asda has confirmed its intention to launch a new Express branch in a vacant spot a two-minute walk away from the new Tesco location. There is also a Sainsbury's Local on the nightlife strip.

The new convenience store will be located at the bottom of The Mercian building on Broad Street. A licence application submitted by Asda to sell alcohol at the site between 6am and midnight was approved last May.

An Asda spokesperson confirmed the supermarket still intends to open an Express store on Broad Street and added: "We look forward to sharing more details of our plans to bring Asda's value and quality to the local community in the coming months."

Currently, the nearest Asda stores to Broad Street are located more than two miles away. Asda Express is Asda's convenience store concept, the first of which was launched in Sutton Coldfield in 2022.

The compact supermarkets offer a condensed range of around 3,000 products, including fresh, frozen and chilled groceries, alcohol, ready meals, products from Asda's premium Extra Special range and hot and cold food 'for now'.