Asda moots high-street presence for George

Asda Wal-Mart is considering launching George, the supermarket chain’s own-label clothing range, as a standalone high-street retailer.

The move follows the launch of the supermarket chain’s first dual-branded superstore in Patchway, Bristol. It contains a shop-in-shop concept selling both its existing George range and a new George Baby range. Sales will be closely monitored with a view to testing George stores on the high street.

A spokeswoman for Asda’s George range confirms a trial is a possibility. She says: “We are not looking at any specific sites, but it is something we will be considering.”

A retail analyst says: “It is becoming an open secret that Asda has been considering a move into the high street with its George range. Bosses will be looking at what happens with its shop-in-shop concept.”

But Investech Henderson Crosthwaite analyst David Stoddart warns: “It’s a big leap from having a store-within-store concept to becoming a high-street retailer. There is a big question over cost structure and current levels of competitiveness in the high street.”

Sales of George clothes more than doubled to &£629m in the five years to 1999.