The targets are based on the performance of Japanese contractor Kajima, which impressed Asda earlier this year when its first job slashed the average construction period for a store by nearly 40%.
Mike Abel, general manager of research and development, said Asda’s three framework contractors would present proposals on beating Kajima’s savings next week. He warned that if these were not impressive, Asda would “push the Kajima process on to everyone”.
At Swansea, Kajima used prefabricated elements to complete a 9250 m2 store for £11.5m in 15 weeks – 39% faster and 5.75% cheaper than the similar-sized Gateshead store completed 18 months before.
It is understood that the Asda property department is keen to impress its new owner by driving down construction times and costs. Abel said Wal-Mart had yet to make a big difference to the way stores are procured, although it has already influenced Asda’s commercial policy.
Abel said that in the USA, Wal-Mart pays $45 (£28) a square foot for its stores. In the UK, Asda pays more than three times that, about £100 a square foot.
One area in which the Asda property team is looking to save time and money is the roof structure. Abel is working on a portal roof system, so instead of raising a portal frame and then cladding it with metal roofing, the portal frame units are clad with metal before erection.
Wal-Mart has taken 13 000 m2 of warehouse space at Asda arm Gazeley Properties’ Magna Park, Leicestershire.
Both worked under Penny.
