Editing Asda (section)

===2000s and 2010s: Walmart years===
[[File:Interior of Asda, Merseyside in 2003 1.jpg|thumb|Interior of an Asda supermarket in 2003]]
A merger deal was abandoned when Walmart outbid Kingfisher to purchase Asda for £6.7&nbsp;billion, which was completed on 26 July 1999<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/368430.stm | work=BBC News | title=Wal-Mart bids for Asda | date=14 June 1999 | access-date=3 September 2013 | archive-date=8 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308053412/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/368430.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> in a move that was initially speculated by British media outlets as a potential [[corporate raid]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Wal-Mart says 'no' to UK |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/331072.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=29 April 1999 |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814045940/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/331072.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the takeover, Norman resigned as chairman and left the company to pursue his political career; he was succeeded as chairman by Leighton. As Walmart were keen on entering the British market,<ref>{{cite news |title=The secret of Wal-Mart's success |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/325922.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=14 June 1999 |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814061935/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/325922.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Bob Martin, Walmart's president of international operations, lobbied [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] on planning issues.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2783372/Wal-Mart-did-lobby-Blair-over-Asda.html | url-access = subscription |title=Wal-Mart did lobby Blair over Asda |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=28 January 2008| access-date=9 October 2008| location=London| first1=Christopher| last1=Hope| first2=James| last2=Hall| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081009042425/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2783372/Wal-Mart-did-lobby-Blair-over-Asda.html| archive-date= 9 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In 2005, amid reported concerns within Walmart about a slippage in market share, partially due to a resurgent [[Sainsbury's]], Asda's chief executive, [[Tony De Nunzio]] left, and was replaced by [[Andrew James Bond|Andy Bond]]. In 2005, Asda expanded into Northern Ireland by purchasing 12 former [[Safeway Stores (Ireland)|Safeway stores]] from [[Morrisons]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/41262/asda-acquires-12-ni-safeway-stores |title=Asda acquires 12 NI Safeway stores |website=Northern Ireland News |date=6 June 2005 |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731110830/https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/41262/asda-acquires-12-ni-safeway-stores |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/legacy/asda-eyes-up-the-republic-c1e03c31 |title=Asda eyes up the Republic | first=Ian | last=Kehoe | work=[[Business Post]] | date=11 June 2005
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418152940/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2005/06/12/story5576.asp |archive-date=18 April 2009}}</ref>

In December 2007, Asda, [[Sainsbury's]] and various other retailers and dairy firms admitted to the [[price fixing]] of [[dairy product]]s between 2002 and 2003.<ref name="milk">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7132108.stm |title=Supermarkets admit milk price fix |work=BBC News |date=7 December 2007 |access-date=3 September 2013 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219132157/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7132108.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The price operation was calculated to have cost consumers around £270&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dairy Price Fixing Firms Fined Millions|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Asda-and-Sainsburys-Fined-Over-Dairy-Price-Fixing/Article/20071211296071?lid=ARTICLE_1296071_Asda%20and%20Sainsbury's%20Fined%20Over%20Dairy%20Price%20Fixing&lpos=Business_0|date=7 December 2007|work=Sky News|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref> Asda commented, "Everyone at Asda regrets what happened, particularly as we are passionate about lowering prices. Our intention was to provide more money for dairy farmers, who were under severe financial pressure at the time."<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=James |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7132108.stm |title=Supermarkets admit milk price fix |work=BBC News |date=7 December 2007 |access-date=8 October 2014 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219132157/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7132108.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In total, Asda was fined £18.21&nbsp;million by the Office of Fair Trading for its part in the [[cartel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2011/89-11 |title=OFT fines certain supermarkets and processors almost £50&nbsp;million in dairy decision – The Office of Fair Trading |publisher=Oft.gov.uk |date=10 August 2011 |access-date=3 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819154929/http://oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2011/89-11 |archive-date=19 August 2013 }}</ref>

Asda's [[property development]] arm, Gazeley Limited, was sold to Economic Zones World (EZW), a [[Dubai World]] subsidiary, in June 2008 for in excess of £300&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.propertyweek.com/news/dubai-world-buys-gazeley/3115513.article |title=Dubai World buys Gazeley |first=Jennifer |last=Rigby |website=[[Property Week]] |date=10 June 2008 |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731175624/https://www.propertyweek.com/news/dubai-world-buys-gazeley/3115513.article |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2008, there were reports that Asda was to buy Irish retailer [[Dunnes Stores]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.ie/business/dunnes-urged-to-clarify-rumours-of-asda-takeover-26489747.html | title=Dunnes urged to clarify rumours of Asda takeover | work=[[Irish Independent]] | date=4 November 2008 | access-date=19 February 2021 | archive-date=29 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729172500/https://www.independent.ie/business/dunnes-urged-to-clarify-rumours-of-asda-takeover-26489747.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2009, Walmart sold Asda for £6.9&nbsp;billion to its Leeds-based investment subsidiary Corinth Services Limited.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tyler |first=Richard |date=8 November 2009 |title=Wal-Mart 'sells' Asda for £6.9bn in group restructuring |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6527054/Wal-Mart-sells-Asda-for-6.9bn-in-group-restructuring.html | url-access = subscription |url-status=live |access-date=11 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111001953/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6527054/Wal-Mart-sells-Asda-for-6.9bn-in-group-restructuring.html |archive-date=11 November 2009}}</ref> The deal was described as part of a "group restructuring" and meant that Asda remained under the control of Walmart.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 November 2009 |title=Asda posts flat profits and is 'sold' in internal Walmart deal |url=http://www.retail-week.com/city/trading-update/asda-posts-flat-profits-and-is-sold-in-internal-walmart-deal/5007872.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112134131/http://www.retail-week.com/city/trading-update/asda-posts-flat-profits-and-is-sold-in-internal-walmart-deal/5007872.article |archive-date=12 November 2009 |access-date=11 November 2009 |website=Retail Week |publisher=Emap Ltd}}</ref>