Asda is set to open 20 more Express supermarkets across the UK in October, taking the total to 500. The firm's chief supply chain officer David Lepley said: "We're thrilled to kick off the next phase of our Express rollout and bring our heritage in delivering outstanding value to more locations across the UK. In just three years, we've grown from zero convenience stores to establishing a major presence in the channel, with almost 500 stores by the end of the year.

"This continued investment reflects the confidence we have in our convenience strategy and our focus on bringing Asda's low prices to more local communities." The move will see the retailer grow its footprint in high-footfall urban areas, residential locations, and transport hubs, sites where, bosses, say, Asda has traditionally had limited presence. An Express site will open in Castleford in early October, which will be followed by openings in up to 20 more locations across the country in the space of a month.

Asda says its Express stores typically stock up to 3,000 branded and own-label products to "suit a broad range of customer needs", including "top up" shops for essential items like milk and bread, lunch on the go or ingredients for dinner.

The company added: "The combination of great choice and prices that are notably lower than competitor convenience stores has struck a chord with shoppers resulting in sales at Asda Express sites outperforming the wider convenience market.

"This rollout marks a return to standalone Express store openings and builds on the successful integration of 469 convenience and fuel sites acquired from The Co-op and EG Group."

• Castleford - Holywell Lane

• London - Tower Bridge

• Greenwich - South Street

• Limehouse Station

• Harringay - Green Lanes

• Stoke - Station Road

• Finsbury Park Station

• Deptford - Landings

• Botley - Boorley Green

• Whetstone - High Road

• Ferndown - Wimborne Road

• Tottenham Hale West

• Crystal Palace - Anerley Road

• Deepcut - Bridge Road

• Harrow - Headstone Drive

• Manchester - Square Gardens

• Liverpool - Parliament St

• Horncastle

• Wigan - Mesnes Road

• Heath Hayes - Hednesford Road

• Cadishead - Liverpool Road

• Bradford - Toller Lane