Asda has started a three-year programme to update valeting at 100 of the forecourts it originally acquired from the EG Group or the Co-op in recent years.
It has signed up Air Serv in a shared revenue agreement for the first 25 installations, which will be complete by mid November.
Most of the Asda Express sites previously had some form of valeting equipment which had been decommissioned by the previous owners, says Asda’s petrol operations – project manager Stuart Peel.
The partnership will see Air Serv, install state-of-the-art Aquarama rollover car washes, five-step UltraJet jet washes branded as ‘The ultimate vehicle spa’, and air and vac machines..
The roll-out started at Asda’s Boroughbridge Road site in York on June 20 and was followed swiftly by its Evesham, Worcestershire site going live 10 days later.
The nationwide project represents significant investment with the York site, for example, developed from having four non-operational wash bays, to becoming a fully functional valeting centre with a rollover carwash and three jet washes. Included in the work is new concrete wash bays, drainage, and branding.
Currently, the jet washes and air & vac machines offer contactless and cash payments. But the rollover carwashes are contactless only, and the businesses are working on options for customers who prefer to pay with cash and/or need a receipt.
Asda’s Stuart Peel says that early signs are positive with regards to customer reaction to the new equipment.
“Having more operational valeting units increases the service offering to our Asda customers when visiting sites,” he says. ”This in turn will drive income through the shared revenue agreement with Air Serv.
“The transformation at Asda Boroughbridge has been nothing short of fantastic,” he adds. “We’re incredibly pleased with how Air Serv has delivered this project. It’s given the site a fresh lease of life and has already started making a positive difference to the local community. Who now have the car wash they have been asking for.”
