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! 🧀

It was an honour to visit the Random Cafe and present them with an Asda Foundation grant for £10,900.

The Random Cafe is a fantastic not for profit cafe that turns food that would otherwise be thrown away by local businesses into delicious dishes that can be bought at affordable prices. There is also an onsite food shop where excess food can be bought at low cost and a garden that provides the cafe with fresh produce.

The cafe has been awarded an Investing in Spaces and Places Grant to convert their existing two toilets into an accessible toilet with baby change. The new toilet will have an access ramp, grab rails and baby change table, providing a space that will benefit the wider needs of the community.

– Hayley, Asda community champion

Cashpot for Schools is in full swing at Asda, Watford.

"Opt in" through the Asda Rewards App (available on both ios and Android) and then either choose a primary school that you would like Asda to donate to, or select the national schools cashpot to receive donations. All you need to do once you've opted in is scan your rewards card every time you shop and Asda will donate 0.5% of your spend to the school's cashpot. You will still earn your rewards in addition to the donation made by Asda.Our colleagues are on hand to answer any questions that you may have and to help you to sign up and opt in!

– Hayley, Asda community champion

Calling all football fans! For the England vs Denmark game tomorrow evening we’re hosting a ‘Nanzone’ at our Watford store – one of the first-ever football fanzones designed for older fans so they can watch the football game in a safe and friendly environment and not on their own at home.

The Nanzone is taking place in the Community Room at Asda Watford and is free to attend. It will give older people the chance to unite over food, drink and football. They are completely free to enter, will offer a spread of food and drinks and will be decked out with football decorations.

If you’d like to come along, the Nanzone will be open from 4:30pm – pop in and say hello! If you have any questions, please contact our Community Champion, Hayley Beale on [email protected].

⚽ We hope you see you there! ⚽

The lovely Violet, Jagger, Jemimah, Lace and Pascal bought their humans into the store to raise funds for the Watford and Hemel Hempstead Guide Dogs branch. They were very popular and enjoyed lots of attention from customers and colleagues!

– Hayley, Asda community champion

Congratulations to our lovely checkout service host Karen who has celebrated 20 years here at Asda Watford 🎊🥳.

– Hayley, Asda community champion

A massive thank you to our customers and colleagues for another fantastic month of donations of animal food and supplies going to Pumpkin’s Wildlife Hospital.

In addition to donations from the public, we donated Easter eggs to aid in their fundraising at upcoming events.

– Hayley, Asda community champion

We enjoyed a very festive start to December this weekend.

The Rotary Club were in store on a very chilly Saturday, along with their choir, to fundraise. They were back again on a wet and rainy Sunday, this time with Santa's sleigh 🎅🏼🛷

– Hayley, Asda community champion

Our Tickled Pink Spin the Wheel game was a big hit with the families that visited the store in Saturday, every spin won a prize from one of the numbered "lucky boxes" while raising money for Tickled Pink.

I was back in store on Sunday to volunteer alongside the lovely Isabel, handing out leaflets and raising funds through a bucket collection. A big thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers that gave up their time to fundraise in store on Saturday and Sunday, and of course, to all of our generous customers and colleagues.

– Hayley, Asda community champion

A big congratulations to Syed, our wonderful GM/George trading manager, who has celebrated 35 years of service at Asda.

– Hayley, Asda community champion

We had One Vision in store collecting food for there food bank, altogether they collected a very impressive eight trolleys of food.

Thank you to each and everyone who donated you have really made a difference.

– Beverley, Asda community champion

Congratulations to Sue from home shopping on 20 years of service with Asda.

– Bev, Asda community champion

Congratulations and well done to Watford Town Cricket club for winning £500 in our recent Green Token Giving vote.

A couple of their players and coach came into store to pick up the cheque, the money will be going towards replacing their cricket nets.

- Beverley, Asda community champion

I presented a cheque to Margaret Wix Primary School who were received an Asda Foundation grant for £1,210.They will be using the money to start a breakfast club called Rise and Shine, buying a fridge/freezer, kitchen equipment and some sensory toys.– Beverley, Asda community champion

Martha from Imatter Health and Wellbeing support was thrilled to receive an Asda Foundation grant £1,209.

she will now be running Affordable Cookery Workshops where she will show how to cook low cost healthy and nutritional meals.

– Bev, Asda community champion

John and Tony from the Royal British Legion popped into store to present us with a certificate and to let us know how much they collected this year for Poppy Appeal – , £20,150. Thank you to all the volunteers and every one that bought a poppy.

– Bev, Asda community champion

I had the very great pleasure in presenting an Asda Foundation cheque for £1,500 to Druglink in Hemel Hempstead.

Druglink aims to change the future for people who are affected by substance misuse. The money will be used for improving the garden for all its users.

– Beverley, Asda community champion

We welcomed Camilla Khawaja and Dean Russell MP into store to offer free legal advice to colleagues and customers.

Camilla of The Women's Lawyer is a Watford-based barrister who offers pro-bono legal services in family law at our store on a regular basis. It really is an excellent initiative and invaluable service. The sessions will run quarterly throughout the year, the next one will be on December 16. To book an appointment email [email protected]

– Bev, Asda community champion

The Ark Community Church popped into store to collect for their food bank and they were absolutely blown away by the generosity of our customers.

Thank you to everyone who helped by buying an extra item to go into the trollies.

– Beverley, Asda community champion

I was delighted to hand over a cheque for £500 to Cherry Tree School the winners of our green token giving scheme. The children were so very excited, we even had a drone filming us and Bonnie the school dog was well chuffed as well.– Beverley, Asda community champion

I had the very great pleasure to present a cheque for £400 to Sarratt School Parents Association from our recent green token giving vote.

They will be using the money to improve the school and organise social events to bring the whole community together.

– Beverley, Asda community champion

I had the very great pleasure in presenting Dacorum Council for Voluntary Services in Hemel old town an Asda Foundation grant £775 which went towards their Jubilee celebrations.– Beverley, Asda community champion

Amanda from Stanborough Seniors Club came to pick up some marigold plants to sell at their bric-a-brac sale.

In total they raised £180 which will be used help purchase things for the club. I donated some home-grown rhubarb from the garden and one person bought the whole lot!

– Beverley, Asda community champion

I was thrilled to hand over a cheque for £1,250 from the Asda Foundation to Watford and Three Rivers Refugee Partnership.

Sarah from the Refugee Partnership says it will be used to help fund sports and social activities for young refugees and their families. She said: "We know that taking part in local clubs and classes can improve physical health and wellbeing. Thanks to the Asda Foundation, people will be able to join a football club, swimming club and dance group, and any other exercise classes, and we can provide any kit they need."

– Bev, Asda community champion