The man told Asda workers he agreed a ‘buy now, pay later’ deal with the store manager to supply drink for his party.
He claimed he would be back days later to pay and return any unused bevvy.
He then produced a list with scores of alcohol products on it — and staff were sent to the drinks aisle to fill trolleys. Checkout workers even had to over-ride the maximum sale limit of tills as they scanned the huge pile of bottles and cans. But the alarm was raised when it was reported the mystery shopper had NOT returned as promised.
The bizarre incident at the Bridge of Dee store in Aberdeen, on May 11, was only reported to police yesterday — hours after Scottish Sun reporters contacted Asda HQ for a comment. Grampian Police confirmed they were investigating a four-figure theft.
A source at the 24-hour superstore said: “The guy walked up to customer services and said he’d already spoken to the manager about a deal to return with booze that hadn’t been used and that’s when he would know exactly what to pay.
“Unbelievably everyone took his word for it and even worse is the fact staff were summoned to load the booze into trolleys and help take it out to the car park.
“The checkout staff were even told to over-ride tills as it was such a huge amount. Unsurprisingly he hasn’t been seen again. To say it’s been the talk of the store is an understatement. No one can believe the guy was able to walk out with thousands of pounds worth of alcohol and no one batted an eyelid.”
An Asda spokeswoman said last night the matter was in the hands of police.
However, just a few minutes later she claimed the customer had in fact returned four days after the incident to pay up.
She said: “The mix-up about whether or not the customer returned happened because only certain members of staff knew about the situation. Procedures will now be looked at.”
A Grampian Police spokeswoman said: “We have been made aware of a theft at the Bridge of Dee Asda store. Inquiries are continuing.”
Source: www.thescottishsun.co.uk
Asda plans for Redhill site regeneration move forward - Get Surrey
RESIDENTS in Redhill will soon be able to have their say on Asda's plans to regenerate the Cromwell Road area of the town centre.
The supermarket firm has submitted its transport assessment for a new 30,000sq-ft store to Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, allowing the authority to formally register the planning application.
Asda wants to open in Redhill in 2014, bringing almost 300 new jobs.
Oliver Jones, property communications manager, said: "We are keen to bring this food store as quickly as possible for the people who want it there.
"It will bring 280 jobs to the area, a mix of full-time and part-time, which will all have access to training programmes.
"We are still waiting on planning permission, but we are ever hopeful and we realise this will be a big benefit for the community."
The land Asda wants to build on is currently occupied by a number of people living in flats owned by the Raven Housing Trust.
Susan Lea, communications officer for the trust, said: "While discussions have been taking place with Asda, no agreement has been reached on the terms for any purchase of Raven’s land.
"We remain open to discussions with Asda but do not anticipate much happening now until after the summer, and only then if Asda is successful with their planning application.
"If we do reach an agreement with Asda following a successful planning application, we will of course work with the council to find alternative homes and provide financial and practical help to residents affected."
And speaking for Asda, Mr Jones added: "Typically, [with] situations like this, they [the residents] are provided with a compensation offer or rehoused elsewhere. We will keep people informed as best as we can."
Local resident Hannah Rainford said that although she thought the site would be better used for something other than a supermarket, she would still prefer Asda to set up shop there rather than it remain in its present state.
She said: "I would rather that Redhill had one large supermarket and that the run-down Cromwell Road area was regenerated with restaurants and a cinema. Although I would rather that Asda took the site, over the option of it staying as it is."
Another Redhill resident, Gary Hawkins, believes the town has enough supermarkets already, saying: "I think the monster-sized Sainsbury's will be quite enough, but Cromwell Road does need some attention."
Source: www.getsurrey.co.uk
New lamp posts for Dovercourt thanks to Lidl cash - essexcountystandard.co.uk
New lamp posts for Dovercourt thanks to Lidl cash
7:30am Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in Countywide news By Owen Bennett
New lamp posts will be installed in Dovercourt after councillors agreed how to spend part of a £100k cash windfall.
The money was handed over by supermarket chain Lidl in 2005 as part of the planning permission for its Dovercourt store, but has to spent before 2014 or it will be given back.
Following a public meeting in February and consultation with Harwich Town Council, Tendring Council will spend £60,000 on six lamp posts for Dovercourt High Street.
New lamp posts were recommended as the current structures could not support hanging flower baskets.
Other improvements available include additional street furniture or new signs for the town.
Source: www.essexcountystandard.co.uk
Discount Supermarkets Share Rise, Tesco's Share Continues To Drop - NASDAQ
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Discount retailers Aldi and Lidl, as well as Asda saw their market share improve in the 12 weeks ended May 13 as cash-strapped consumers sought cheaper goods to make their money go further.
Meanwhile, the former darling of the retail sector, Tesco PLC's (TSCO.LN) share continued to fall, according to the latest data from Kantar, which monitors the grocery purchasing habits of 25,000 demographically representative U.K. households.
Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), saw its U.K. market share rise to 17.4%, from 16.9% in the 12 weeks ended May 15, 2011. Including Netto, which it bought in April last year, Asda's total market share slipped to 17.4%, from 17.5%.
Upmarket retailer Waitrose also saw its market share rise to 4.5%, from 4.4% while discount retailers Aldi and Lidl's joint market share rose to 5.6%, from 4.9%. Separately, Aldi share rose to 2.8% from 2.3%--an all-time record--and Lidl's share rose to 2.8%, from 2.6%.
Edward Garner, director at Kantar Worldpanel, said the ongoing strong performances of Aldi and Lidl have led some commentators to believe consumers are deserting conventional stores for the discount sector but he believes a more realistic picture of shopper behavior shows that many consumers are continuing to do their main shopping trip in their usual store, but spending the remainder of their household budget on the discounters.
"The stubbornly high level of food price inflation means that shoppers continue to feel the squeeze on their household budgets", Garner concluded.
Tesco's market share fell to 30.8% compared with 31.1% a year earlier, while J Sainsbury PLC's (SBRY.LN) market share remained unchanged at 16.5%. Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC's (MRW.LN) market share fell to 11.9%, from 12.1%.
Earlier this year, Tesco issued its first profit warning in 20 years citing the most difficult conditions for retailers in living memory. Since that time, however, the retailer has instigated a new round of price cuts and announced a GBP1 billion revamp of its stores.
Regarding future sales, Garner said that figures for the four weeks up to May 15, 2011 were boosted by the Royal Wedding and Easter -- offering a hint of what is to come over the Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend.
-By Ian Walker, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9296; ian.walker@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 05-22-120704ET Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Source: www.nasdaq.com
Sussex captain Michael Yardy impressed by bowling attack - BBC News
Sussex captain Michael Yardy is delighted with the early-season performances of his side's bowlers.
New signing Steve Magoffin has taken 15 wickets at an average of 19.13 while James Anyon already has 18 scalps.
Yardy told BBC Sussex: "The bowlers, as a unit, are performing really well. They beat the bat consistently in both innings against Worcestershire.
"If we continue this way of playing cricket I'm sure we'll come out on top in a lot of games."
The 31-year-old added: "We've got a few new guys who are getting used to the conditions at Hove.
"We're in a good place at the moment. It's now about converting performances into wins for the team."
Meanwhile Yardy has joined batsman Ed Joyce in backing veteran batsman Murray Goodwin to rediscover his best form.
Goodwin, 39, averaged 52.76 in the County Championship last year but has only scored 38 runs in his seven innings in four-day matches in 2012.
"Muzz isn't scoring at the rate of runs we're used to but he'll make it up at some point in the season," Yardy continued.
"I know the quality player he is, as does everyone at the club.
"His record suggests that he is due a score. We're ready for that to come."
Sussex face Yorkshire in 40-over competition on Thursday then entertain Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, beginning on Friday.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Time to get your frock on and be risque - This is Wiltshire
Time to get your frock on and be risque
11:43am Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in Latest News
SWINDON’S most eccentric poetry magazine threw on its best flowery muu muu dress and dusted off the pyrex last night to launch its second edition.
Domestic Cherry, which held the 70s-themed bash at Lower Shaw Farm, entertained the crowd with readings from contributors along with special guest Jo Bell, poet in residence for the Glastonbury Festival.
A DJ using a single turntable dusted off vinyl from the likes of Rod Stewart and Boney M to fill the interludes before a disco got underway in the old cow shed.
Guests at the vintage tea party, held for Swindon Festival of Literature, were treated to cocktail sticks, cakes, devilled eggs, stuffed tomatoes and quiche lorraine from Lidl.
Hilda Sheehan, who compered as dotty 70s alter-ego Mabel Watson, said: “Domestic Cherry has come out of Swindon and attracted poets from across the UK as well as all over the world.
“The idea is that people can contribute but there is also a performative side.
“There is a bit of fun with a serious edge and good writing.” The women’s magazine is published each May as part of the festival. But Hilda pointed out that men also contribute – and dress up in retro frocks.
Michael Scott gave a reading in front of the lampshade and reflective golden strips as Ursula Pitt, who he said had been ex-communicated from the church but was “really nice” despite having had a tough life.
He said: “My poetry as a woman bears little relation to my poetry as a man.
“For one thing it is humorous, and for another, it is more risque. I think women are better at doing risque than a lot of people give them credit for.”
JOSH LAYTON
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Source: www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk
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