Netto (store) - United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Netto began operating in England in Leeds on 13 December 1990, with the company's UK headquarters being based in the ex-mining village of South Elmsall, West Yorkshire. Netto primarily expanded in central England, before moving south into London. There were a total of 194 stores in the UK, all in England and Wales.

The United Kingdom had Netto stores from December 1990 until September 2011, when, in May 2010, it was announced that Netto would sell all UK stores to Asda for £778M. stores later opened in London, Carlisle, Dover, Leeds, Liverpool, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Southampton, Barrow-in-Furness, Leicester, Sheffield, Bury, Rotherham, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Kingston upon Hull, Market Weighton, Wakefield, Sunderland, Kidderminster, King's Lynn, Bedlington, Wigan, Shrewsbury, Lincoln, Tamworth, Goole and York.

Plans for a £200M investment in 70 stores in South Wales were cancelled due to logistical issues, resulting in the sell-off of stores in Barry and Caerphilly. Four stores were opened in North Wales in Holyhead, Llandudno Junction, Flint and Caernarfon.

Many prices were very similar to wholesale prices, in a style and concept closest to the now defunct Kwik Save brand. To enforce fairness to all shoppers, many offers were limited to 6 per person. Netto sold brand-name products, such as Pepsi and Walkers Crisps which were often parallel imports.

In May 2010, Netto UK was bought by Asda for £778m to increase its smaller store portfolio. The rebranding of 147 former UK Netto stores under the Asda name was complete by the end of the summer of 2011. Competition laws required Asda to sell the remaining 47 stores to other companies such as Morrisons, new convenience store UGO, and other retailers.

By 2011, the 193 Netto stores were sold to Asda, who under Competition commission requirements, then disposed of 27 stores to Morrison's and 20 stores to the Haldanes group. Haldanes created a new brand of stores named UGO and attempted to duplicate the success of Netto by selling similar products. This venture failed and Haldanes went into administration in June 2011, with the 20 stores being sold to the Poundstretcher group.

• Lidl
• Asda
• UGO
• Morrison's