Asda Express continued to outperform the wider convenience sector in the first quarter of 2026, delivering its seventh consecutive quarter of growth as the supermarket giant reported improving sales trends under its turnaround plan.
In its Q1 results for the 13 weeks to 31 March 2026, Asda said total revenues excluding fuel were £5 billion, down 1.5 per cent year-on-year. However, like-for-like sales improved significantly from a decline of 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter to a decline of 0.8 per cent in Q1, or 1.3 per cent on an Easter-adjusted basis.
The retailer said the improved performance was driven by stronger operational execution, with product availability maintained above 95 per cent throughout the quarter – its highest level in eight years.
Asda Express remained a standout performer, with the retailer reporting growth for a seventh successive quarter despite challenging conditions across the wider convenience market. Asda said new partnerships with third-party food brands would help drive further momentum across its small-store estate.
The results come as Asda continues to invest heavily in price, widening its advantage against full-range supermarket competitors.
Executive chairman Allan Leighton said the business had continued to make steady progress during the quarter.
“In our previous trading update, I described performance as edging forwards and this continued through Q1, finishing the quarter broadly where we expected to be,” he said.
“This progress is due to the stabilisation of our core systems, which has enabled us to deliver ongoing improvements in availability, price and customer satisfaction. It has also given us the confidence to launch ‘Take a Fresh Look’ – an open invitation for shoppers to come back and give Asda another go. We’re confident they’ll see the difference straight away when they do.”
Leighton also highlighted the retailer's newly announced partnership with the Ocado Group, which will underpin a major upgrade to its online operations.
“It will bring the best-in-class technology and, importantly, enable us to compete more strongly in this fast-growing channel. This is a clear statement of intent and will put us in a much stronger position for the future,” he added.
Chief financial officer Michael Gleeson said the business had traded in line with expectations and delivered a marked improvement on the previous quarter.
“We traded the first quarter in line with expectations and significantly improved versus Q4, supported by continued operational stability across our core systems, giving us the platform to operate more consistently and effectively,” he said.
“Looking ahead, we expect to run the business with greater consistency and build on the progress made in Q1 as we deliver our Formula for Growth.”