New Asda boss orders stores to open more staffed checkouts

Updated: 04:39 EST, 11 November 2026 The new boss of Asda has ordered stores to open more staffed checkouts as part of turnaround efforts at the supermarket.David Potts, who was appointed chief executive this month, told the supermarket's 1,100 store managers to spend more time on the shop floor helping staff and checking stores are ready for customers.Speaking at Asda's Pudsey store in West Yorkshire yesterday, Potts said: 'We're making it harder than it should be for customers to get what they want, move around the store and pay for their shopping.'We need to change that, starting now, which is why I've instructed all our general store managers to open more full-service checkouts, spend more time on the shop floor and get more product on shelves and well-presented throughout the day.' Asda's new boss David Potts has asked staff to open more staffed checkouts The retail veteran instructed staffed checkouts open more often to help those doing bigger shops. They must be available from at least 8am, alongside self-service and Scan and Go tills.Asda has around 3,400 staffed tills, compared with 8,100 self-scan and 2,000 Scan and Go checkouts across 611 of its larger stores.Potts told Asda staff yesterday: 'More than anything Asda shoppers want great value which is why the business has invested to get back on the pitch when it comes to low prices. 'But visiting stores as a customer over the last few weeks has shown me we aren't as focused on the rest of the shopping trip as we need to be.'He added: 'The shopping trip is everything and by making Asda easier to shop so customers can find what they came for and get through the checkouts easily, they'll come back and shop more with us.'After a long search for a new boss, Asda last week said Potts had joined the ailing supermarket with immediate effect.For the past two years, the business has been run by retail veteran and former Asda boss Allan Leighton, who now holds a non-executive chairman role.Potts faces the task of turning Asda around after a long period of falling sales since private equity firm TDR Capital helped finance a debt-fuelled £6.8billion takeover by the billionaire Issa brothers in 2021.The supermarket swung back to quarterly sales growth for the first time in more than two years in September, but continues to lose out to discounters Lidl and Aldi. It has also grappled with debt pressures and severe disruption linked to an IT upgrade.Analysts welcomed the appointment of Potts, regarded as one of the finest retailers of his generation. He began his career at Tesco on the shop floor aged 16, after failing his O-Levels. He worked his way up to run its Ireland, UK and Asia businesses.He then led Morrisons from 2015 to 2023, a period which included the group's £10billion sale to private equity group Clayton Dubilier & Rice in 2021.DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you