Asda

Gavin and Stacey star Larry Lamb has launched our new Chatty Cafés initiative to help combat loneliness and isolation this Christmas as part of our "Don’t be Gnome Alone this Christmas" campaign.

We are transforming our store cafes into Chatty Cafes where senior citizens can come together, eat and drink, and make new friends. It follows our Christmas Community report which surveyed more than 1,000 over 60s and found that one in 10 aren't sure they will speak to anyone between December 15th and January 1st.

Larry, who shared a cuppa with customers at the launch of the scheme at our Basildon store, said: "I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by friends and family this time of year, but that’s not the case for everyone, and it’s so important that we all club together and help combat loneliness. It’s heartbreaking to think that so many over 60s in Britain might not speak to anyone at all over the extended Christmas period. Asda’s going all out to bring people in this Christmas and make them feel seen and heard, and spread a little Christmas joy. I’d urge everyone to do the same. If there’s somebody, anybody – young or old – who you know is going to be struggling for company this Christmas, pick up the phone or go and pay them a visit – and obviously, pay a visit to one of Asda’s Chatty Cafés.”

just leaving this here in case santa's watching - gnicky

"Wow Asda, your cracking Boxing Day Christmas sandwich is AMAZING! 😍 I'm absolutely in love", "One of the best shop bought sandwiches I have ever tried" and "I had the Christmas Club sandwich today it was delicious!" – just some of the great things customers are saying about our new festive sandwich range 💚

All festive sandwiches are included in the 3 for 2 meal deal in the Food To Go, and are available in stores 🛒

Asda announces Christmas sandwich range - including festive curry wrap Asda has launched its 2024 Christmas sandwich range - now available in stores and online across the UK - with two new flavours joining six fan favourites making a highly-anticipated return.

Gnome-body told you? Guess it was on the down-low 📩 ✨

Our Gnome of Christmas Market will feature 5 mini market stalls all tailored to match the individual passions and personalities of each gnome! From magical mince pies to glorious grazing, gnome-body does it better so come say hi to our gnomies 🎄

from our gnome, to yours

gnome-body guessed it was us ! hehe woops

Ashton has been reunited with her beloved plush dog Violet thanks to the detective skills of security colleague Gordon from our Dundee Kirkton store.

Ashton, who's autistic, has had Violet since she was a baby and uses her to keep her calm and grounded. She lost her one day when she fell out of her bag as she walked to college. A passer-by found the toy and put her on the wall of our car park before taking a photo and posting it on local Facebook group Dundee Lost and Found. But when her family went to pick Violet up she was no longer there. The family scoured the area with torches and even looked in bins but to no avail ... and that's when Gordon got involved, searching through CCTV tapes until he spotted that Violet had been taken down from the wall by one of our cleaning colleagues who'd spotted her but didn't know who she belonged to.

The store's community champion Sam got in touch with the family and Ashton's grandma Myra and mum Shelly were at the store within minutes to collect Violet. Shelly said: "We are so grateful to Gordon; he's a hero. We were all blown away by the kindness of everyone. It just shows the power of community.

"Ashton was absolutely distraught when she'd lost Violet – she got her for her first Christmas. She takes her everywhere with her and helps her to navigate new situations. Ashton struggles to see the world without Violet beside her. She'd just started a life skills course at college and was taking Violet there when she somehow fell out of her bag. She burst into tears when she got Violet back; she was over the moon."

Our new festive crisp flavour, Roasted Camembert and Garlic, is already a favourite with shoppers! 🎄

Customers on social media are calling it a "gamechanger" and adding them to their Christmas list. Other shoppers are saying, "Had these the other week, very nice and garlicy", "They're pretty good! The Camembert is stronger tasting than you'd expect!" and "These are nice 👍got some yesterday".

We've also brought back our other popular festive flavours of the Extra Special favourites: Beef & Red Wine Gravy and Pigs in Blankets 😋

Pick up a pack for just £1 🛒

Subject to availability in stores and online: https://bit.ly/3BVTgyN

Roasted Camembert & Garlic Crisps spotted at Asda! 🧀

Young Brodie from Hazlehead Primary School send a lovely letter to the store asking for a donation of mince pies for the school's Family Festive Night

We were delighted to be able to help, and lovely to meet his grandparents who were able to collect the donation.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

I had a great weekend helping out at Aberdeen's Royal Horticultural Summer Show.

There was lots to see and lots of visitors enjoying themselves. The store also provided a raffle prize for the Sunday – a gardening trug filled with Asda Extra Special goodies.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

Local charity Aberdeen Cyrenians has received a donation of £1,600 from the Asda Foundation which will go towards helping with both the increase in costs and the number of people they are supporting each week.

I was delighted to be able to present the cheque to Karen from the Cyrenians during my weekly outreach with the group. I can see for myself the number of people experiencing need, hardship and homelessness coming through the charity's door. It is great that I am able to provide some help with the free grocery store which allows dignity and choice, but maintains limits to ensure everyone has access to something.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

We are really proud to have been able to support three local groups through our Green Token Giving Scheme.

Congratulations to Aberdeen Independent Multiple Sclerosis SCIO who had the most votes and received £500.

I received a lovely welcome at Trinity Church, Westhill after the group's weekly face-to- face exercise class. The group is run by volunteers, and has lots of activities from face to face and zoom exercise to art and craft classes. Visit www.youraims.org for more details.– Margaux, Asda community champion

My old covid pandemic T-shirt came in handy today for The Big Help Out.

Supporting Bonnymuir Green Community Trust with repainting their garden furniture. The weather wasn't kind, but thankfully we were able to work in their marquee. So good to see so many volunteers answered their call for people to come along and help them with maintenance jobs.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

I met with pupils and a member of the Kaimhill School Parent Council to present them with an Asda Foundation cheque for £800.

The funding will mean they can offer all pupils a free or subsidised healthy snack each day at break time.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

Bob from One Seed Forward had put out a call for volunteers to help sow seeds for their Community Garden Training Programme and to be distributed to various Community Gardens round the city.

Delighted I was able to help and join a lovely bunch of volunteers. We achieved a lot in the few hours we were at Grove Nursery.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

It was lovely to catch up with the team The Livingwell Project - Dementia Café at Ferryhill Church where I dropped off a donation of tea, coffee and biscuits.

– Margeaux, Asda community champion

Such a brilliant initiative from Aberdeen Methodist Church on Crown Terrace to open their doors Monday to Friday 2pm to 4pm to offer free tea, coffee and hot food.

I delivered a donation of biscuits, tea, coffee and hot chocolate on behalf of our store to support their warm hub initiative. It was lovely to feel the warmth as soon as I went in the door, and the groups all seemed to be enjoying the chance of both the food and good company.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

I visited Bonnymuir Green Community Trust to see their cafe and community garden and present them with a cheque for £500 after they won our recent green token giving vote.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

Cairncry Community Centre successfully applied for a grant from the Asda Foundation to start a foodbank for the local community.

I visited the centre during their Friday café to present their cheque for £1,158. It was lovely to see so many local residents attending the café and to hear of plans to start more. It's a busy and vibrant community centre.

If you know of any local groups who would benefit from funding from Asda Foundation, please contact me at the store for more information. The next round of grants is about to open.

– Margaux, Asda community champion

One Seed Forward were awarded an Asda Foundation grant to develop a course to help people start their own community gardens.

I was lucky enough to be at the launch of the course with Bob from the group. It was great to see so many people interested in growing their own and collecting free seeds from Bob to get them started.

– Margaux, Asda community champion