SUPERMARKET chain Asda is creating 20 new jobs following a surge in online shopping.
The retailer said online sales had increased 10 per cent over the past year leading it to invest in new delivery vehicles and improved customer systems.
The Walmart owned grocer said it received an average of 10,000 e-commerce transactions each week across Northern Ireland.
In addition to home delivery services, customers can also 'click and collect' from any of its 17 outlets in the north.
Earlier this week, Asda was confirmed as Northern Ireland's second favourite supermarket (behind Tesco) when it overtook Sainsbury's in the latest market share figures.
Asda said much of its growth ahd been driven by the 'click and collect' service which had seen a 26 per cent rise in orders year-on-year.
And it said that for every 100 click and collect orders placed, 40 were for non-grocery items.
The 20 jobs will be created across Asda's five busiest stores and will include new delivery drivers and personal shoppers.
The company is also investing in new customer support systems such as WISMO (Where Is My Order) to track and inform shoppers of precise delivery details, update on product substitutions and the total cost of their order.
The company also runs a parcel collection and returns service for retail partners such as Misguided, ASOS, M&Co and Fat Face.
Asda's regional e-commerce manager Samuel Watson said:“The local appetite for online shopping is ever increasing and we’ve listened to our customers and provided a range of e-commerce options which offer the choice, flexibility and convenience to suit their changing needs. This will be further boosted through our investment in our team, fleet and systems.
“As we approach the busiest time of the year for the retail sector, our focus is on making sure we provide the most convenient and accessible experience to all our customers – whether they’re on mobile, online or in-store.”
