Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced today (13th May) that ASDA had delivered a strong first quarter thanks to an increase in customer traffic driven by lower prices and strong seasonal events.

Comp sales (like-for-like), excluding petrol increased by 6.4%, taking into account an early Easter and the effect of the extra leap day (5% with these benefits stripped out). Total sales increased in the ‘high single digits’ for the period up to 31st March.

ASDA outperformed the market for the eighth consecutive quarter with market share up 0.3% year-on-year in the 12 weeks to 20th April. Wal-Mart also revealed a ‘healthy’ sales performance from ASDA in April, with strong fresh food sales.

Customers to Asda stores will be able to get hold of a bouncy castle and high performance electric pump for just £60 from 16 May – less than the price many companies charge to hire one for a day.

The news is bound to cause uproar in the inflatable toy market where many companies charge up to £100 a day to hire a similar sized inflatable.

And retailers will also be letting off plenty of hot air with many offering similar models to ASDA’s at almost twice the price.

ASDA CEO Andy Bond joins forces today with Olympic and Paralympic legends Roger Black and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE to unveil ASDA’s Sporting Chance – the retailer’s long term commitment to grass-roots sports in the UK. This new initiative will:

• Give hundreds of thousands of youngsters access to free sporting sessions in school holidays for the next five years

• Provide an investment of more than £2 million to the UK’s top emerging young athletes

To coincide with the summer holidays, access to the free sessions will be available in June for Scotland and Northern Ireland children and July for the rest of the UK. The free sporting sessions will continue in school holidays until 2013.

Britain’s lowest priced DAB radio has gone on sale in ASDA stores today for just £15 – half the price charged by many retailers. The news is bound to cause uproar in the radio market which has long been dominated by a handful of retailers – until now!

However, it’s great news for cash strapped Brits who are looking forward to a warm summer ahead spent in the garden listening to their favourite radio personalities and songs. Said James Cawthorne, ASDA electrical buyer: “Radio’s are a national institution, bringing happiness, laughter and song to the homes of millions of Brits since the turn of the last century.

ASDA today (Monday 19th May 2008) announced it was fighting Government proposals to introduce a ‘pay as you throw’ bin tax, calling instead for an end to the recycling postcode lottery.

Research conducted by the supermarket has revealed that millions of people find it difficult to recycle its packaging, even though 92% of it is made from recyclable materials.

Speaking at the HRH Prince of Wales May Day Business Summit on climate change today, Paul Kelly, Corporate Affairs Director for ASDA announced a dramatic rise in the purchase of re-useable bags since the beginning of the six -store trial, with an increase of 1200 per cent across these stores.

Andy Bond, President and CEO of ASDA will today (Tuesday 6th May) pledge to source an additional £30 million worth of fresh produce from African farmers over the next five years at the Africa Millennium Goals Summit hosted by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

ASDA’s announcement marks a significant step change in the way the supermarket procures fresh produce from the African continent, creating sustained employment with trading partners in South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Burkino Faso.

ASDA Financial Services today asks if it’s fair that thousands of people with over 50s life policies could have to pay in far more than their cover will pay out.

ASDA pledges to put that right with its new Over 50s Life Cover and the promise that customers who maintain their premiums won’t ever have to pay in more than they get out.

The commitment is part of ASDA’s new Over 50s Life Cover policy, a unique product which ensures customers will only pay premiums until their chosen sum assured is reached. After this point their premiums stop but their cover continues for the rest of their lives.

It’s been judged better than one of the world’s most expensive bottles of beer – and ASDA customers agree the supermarket’s Smartprice range is tops.

Viewers last night saw TV presenter Kate Garraway choose ASDA’s Smartprice lager over a £204 bottle of Carlsberg on Gordon Ramsay’s F Word.

Paul Kelly, corporate affairs director at ASDA said: “I’m sure some will accuse us of propaganda or greenwash, but we believe it’s important to tell people what we’re doing to reduce waste, cut packaging and source our products in a more sustainable way.

“Over the last couple of years the media has become a little weary of all the green supermarket stories that are relentlessly sent out, so we’ve had to find an unconventional route to get our message out.