Good Christmas for “gimmick-free” Asda

LONDON — Britain’s Asda says it had a successful Christmas thanks to its “focus on gimmick-free, simply every day low price transparency,” as its rivals rushed to offer special deals, resulting in “record footfall” for the retailer. The hypermarket chain, locked in a battle with Sainsbury’s for the number-two spot among British grocers, isn’t due to report results for the quarter until February. Grocery chains in Britain typically cope in adversity by focusing on essentials, but growth has eluded them as wage rises fail to keep pace with inflation, says Reuters.