Asda staff to share €22.3m bonus

More than 100,000 staff at UK supermarket giant Asda are to pocket a share of annual bonuses worth £15m (€22.3m), it was announced today.

Workers will receive up to £300 (€446.50) each in their pay packets as part of the retailer’s benefits scheme.

The announcement came as the company’s owner, US giant Wal-Mart, prepared to announce full year results for 2003.

Asda has now paid bonuses totalling nearly £50m (€74.4m) since introducing the scheme four years ago.

It said the average payout for a full-time employee would be £229 (€340.80), with staff at 156 of its 265 stores in line for a bonus of between £250 (€372) and £300 (€446.40).

Today’s average payout figure compares with £232 (€345.25) offered last year.

President and chief executive Tony DeNunzio said the dedication and hard work of staff helped Asda become Britain’s second biggest supermarket last year.

He said: “We think the best way to celebrate our success is to share it with all the colleagues who helped make it happen.”

All stores have qualified for at least a 20% bonus and 103,805 workers are to benefit. Staff qualify for the bonus scheme after six months’ service.

The supermarket also operates the Colleague Share Ownership Plan, which awards staff who have served for more than 12 months free shares equivalent to 25% of their salary.

Last year, it said average customer numbers stood at 9.4 million per week.