Less than three weeks after competition officials blocked Asda’s £12bn merger with J Sainsbury, the boss of Walmart’s international business flew to Britain to address the uncertainty hanging over the chain’s future.
At the First Direct Arena in Leeds, Asda’s home city, 1,200 store, depot and office managers gathered on Tuesday to seek clarity on Walmart’s plans for its UK supermarket chain.
Judith McKenna, chief executive of Walmart International, who knows many of them from her time as Asda’s chief operating officer, said the American company was “not rushing into anything”. However, she then added: “I want you to know that we are seriously considering a path to an IPO — a public listing — to strengthen your long-term success.”
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