The change marks the latest development for the 11,000 sq ft store on Hale Road. While the Asda branch will cease trading at the end of the month, existing employees will transfer to Waitrose, where additional roles are also being created ahead of the opening.
The closure was first announced in May and has now been given a confirmed final trading date. According to Asda, customers will still be able to use its nearby superstores in Altrincham and Wythenshawe, as well as its online grocery service after the Hale Barns branch closes.
The move also comes during a period of wider financial restructuring for Asda, which has reduced thousands of jobs over the past year while seeking to strengthen its financial position.
Waitrose to Expand Its Presence in Greater Manchester
The Hale Barns location will become a Waitrose supermarket later this year, continuing the retailer’s expansion in the north of England. Although the company has confirmed that the store will open during the autumn, no specific opening date has yet been released.
According to Altrincham Today, Waitrose Regional Manager David Donovan described the new branch as “an exciting opportunity” for the retailer. He said the company intends to offer its range of products and customer service to customers in the area while building a new team ahead of opening. Staff transferring from Asda will become Waitrose Partners, with further recruitment also taking place as preparations continue.
Waitrose’s Head of Physical Estate, Alun Jones, said the Hale Barns site forms part of the company’s broader plans to increase its presence in northern England. According to Altrincham Today, he said the new store represents “a significant next step” in that strategy and noted that it will complement the retailer’s existing stores in Altrincham and Wilmslow.
Asda Confirms Customer Arrangements after the Closure
Asda has said the decision follows a review of its store estate, a process it says is carried out to ensure locations continue to meet customer needs while remaining commercially sustainable.
According to the company’s statement, it thanked both employees and the local community for their support during the store’s operation. The supermarket chain also reassured customers that they will continue to have access to Asda stores nearby, directing shoppers to its Altrincham and Wythenshawe branches as well as its online platform.
The closure comes during a period of significant change across the wider business. According to the Daily Express, Asda has reduced approximately 7,500 jobs over the past year as it works to improve its finances. The retailer is also facing interest costs of more than £730 million linked to debt accumulated following its 2021 takeover.
Despite the closure of the Hale Barns branch, employees at the site are expected to remain in work through their transfer to Waitrose, where training is already under way in preparation for the store’s opening later this year.
