Supermarket chain Asda is set to open its first standalone convenience stores before Christmas.

The Asda Express stores will open in Sutton Coldfield on November 8 and Tottenham Hale, London, on December 6, creating 37 new jobs in their local communities, as reported by Retail Gazette.

The two stores are purpose-built and located in residential areas, giving customers the opportunity to shop in convenient locations.

Each store will stock around 3,000 products, including a range of hot and cold 'food for now' options from Asda and partner brands, plus ready meals and a selection of £10 meal deals.

The stores will offer a rapid delivery service through Uber Eats.

Sales in convenience stores are forecast to grow by 13 per cent to over £50bn by 2027, and Asda is keen to break into a market where it currently has a limited presence.

The big four supermarket said it plans to launch a further 30 convenience stores, creating about 500 new jobs, in 2023, as it pilots its convenience model.

The new stores are wholly owned and operated by Asda, unlike the Asda On the Move sites, on garage forecourts owned and operated by EG Group. They are also separate from the 132 convenience stores Asda is acquiring from the Co-op.