Second biggest UK supermarket retailer reaps the rewards for developing non-food lines
Number two UK grocer Asda reported sales of£14.4 billion in the year ended 31 December 2003, compared to£13.2 billion in the same period the year before.

The retailer, which was acquired by Wal-Mart in 1999, reported a 10.4 per cent pre tax profit rise, from£607.8 million in 2002 to£670.8 million last year.

The increase is down to its aggressive non-food expansion in areas such as clothing, electricals and homeware.