Asda Chief Executive Andy Clarke has said that he believes shopper choice in the future will be all about “price, quality and speed”, in what is a rapidly changing retail environment.
Clarke made his comments during a panel discussion at the World Retail Congress, taking place in Rome this week.
“We started in online 18 years ago, but the real growth has happened in the last five years,” Clarke explained. “The move to mobile has been the accelerator.”
On the challenge posed by the rise of the discounters, and how retailers can best position their store estates to maximise profitability, Clarke added: “Whatever forecast you look at, large store participation is on the decrease; how that space is going to be used is flexing most business minds.”
Also appearing on the panel, under the subject The Transformation of Retail, were Luis Reis, Chief Corporate Centre Officer, Sonae Robin Phillips, Director of Multi-Channel, Boots UK | Kulin Lalbhai, Executive Director, Arvind Retail Group Wang Tian, Founder and Chairman, Betterlife Commercial Chain Store Co Ltd.
The World Retail Congress continues today, 10 September, with the presentation of the World Retail Awards this evening.
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