STAFF at Asda's St Helens store have welcomed news of the proposed takeover of the group by US supermarket giant Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer with more than 3,600 stores.

Chris Coulman, manager of the Kirkland Street store, told the Star: "Everybody here is looking forward to hearing what the plans are for the future. We're pleased that Wal-Mart want us to be a part of them."

Asda chief executive, Allan Leighton, said: "We have always admired Wal-Mart and believe that this offer is a terrific complement to all our colleagues in the business. Customers can feel confident that our obsession with permanently low prices is Wal-Mart's priority too."

And Donald Soderquist, senior vice-chairman of Wal-Mart, added: "We are delighted to be entering the UK market through Asda. We have the highest respect for its management team and their colleagues who have done a great job over the last few years. We look forward to welcoming them to the Wal-Mart family."

Union officials though were more cautious about the proposed takeover. The GMB's National Secretary for Food & Leisure, Derek Hunter, said: "We will be seeking an urgent meeting with Asda to clarify the situation. Our priority is to ensure that the working relationship that currently exists between Asda's employees and the existing management will be carried forward in the event of a merger.

"If the proposed takeover does occur we will work constructively with the new owners, but we will also be seeking early assurances that there will be no erosion of our members' basic rights, particularly in the areas of job security and trade union recognition.

"Trade Unions in the UK have no experience of working with Wal-Mart, but we will work towards building a constructive relationship with the company, in order to ensure the thousand of workers employed by Asda remain in a position to enjoy the continued backing and support of the GMB."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.