The 2025 Proud to be Asda Awards voting is now open!

James has been nominated, as since he has joined the team - he’s quietly - and carefully changed some reporting systems to make life just that bit easier for the whole fresh and frozen own brand team. He takes on the challenges of things he feels can be simpler - without needing to be asked - thinks how the system can be better and works with stakeholders across the team to ensure everyone is aligned to what he's proposing so it lands well. The examples I am thinking of while I write his nomination is the improved complaints and RAG reporting he has simplified for the team. Thankyou James - great job!

Megan has been nominated because she shows tenacity and team collaboration every single day, with a desire to never give up! She always considers how she can do more and how she can improve processes to be easier for her team. She showed this on the lead up to Christmas, working alongside the sales team to bring in incremental cash from key supplies only 3 weeks prior and the way she's approached her CRM, rewards process alongside our retail media partner SMG has been second to none. She's stepped up to resolve tech issues linked to media bookings as we transitioned to plan apps. She also leads legal sign offs for the full LS11 team. She is the definition of a team player and truly cares about her colleagues and Asda.

Andrea has been nominated for being a kind and formidable section leader with vast leadership and store knowledge, always supporting and inspiring her team. She recently stepped up to cover Moor Farm Asda Express for months, guiding the team through tough changes with dedication and care. Andrea hired, trained, and supported a large team, keeping the store running smoothly without complaint until a new manager arrived. Loved by colleagues and management alike, she consistently goes above and beyond in her role. Andrea’s hard work and leadership make her an invaluable asset to Asda Express. She truly deserves recognition for her commitment and inspiring approach every day.

Anna has been nominated for being a truly dedicated colleague who brings joy to everyone around her, even while quietly battling self-doubt. She’s the first to offer support when others are off, both in her own store and across the region, making her line manager’s role easier. Over the past year, she’s been a driving force behind promoting the store and has raised over £1,000 for Tickled Pink through her own time and efforts. Always putting customers first, Anna has built strong rapport and continues to grow by taking on a leadership apprenticeship. Her positivity, commitment, and support for others make her a valued and inspiring colleague who truly deserves this award.

Carys been nominated for going above and beyond in her role, she is the glue that keeps us all together. Carys is so resilient and a colleague that works really hard. She has been nominated so she can realise just how amazing she is in her work and how much she is loved and appreciated by her team.

Katie has been nominated for her incredible perseverance, innovation and personal hard work to launch ecommerce in Asda Express, growing the business into a tens of millions business from scratch.

Jenna has been nominated for being an amazing site manager. She has built an amazing team around her and her standards and commitment to excellence is endless. She passes all audits and drives sales through showing value for her customers. Customers always come first, and this shows in her 50% like for like growth.

Sam has been nominated for a being a true ray of sunshine for every customer who walks through our doors. Her selflessness shines in everything she does—always putting others first, even when facing challenges of her own. When a young colleague had nowhere to stay, Sam didn’t hesitate to offer a place in her home, welcoming them not just as a guest, but as part of her family. Her kindness and generosity extend far beyond her role, touching the lives of both customers and colleagues. Sam is the kind of colleague who makes Asda great.

Richard has been nominated for being instrumental in driving change in waste and recycling streaming, and he has identified potential savings for IPL running into several tens of thousands of pounds.

Simon has been nominated for his fantastic work in the cooked meat and bacon and gammon category. All his work in this category has been inspired and developed by him and his team. He is an exceptional leader and motivator, and the business wouldn’t be the same without him

Stephen has been nominated for writing and illustrating a children's book inspired by his brother-in-law Daniel who has since passed away. Daniel struggled with having a stoma and he asked Stephen to write a book to help children understand what a stoma is and to accept that it is fine to have one. Shimmy the Shark and his Stoma has been published!

Mel has been nominated for putting a lot of effort, her own time (not just work time) and even her own money into organising lots of fun events all year round - a great crafter, Mel even made badges for VE day to sell for charity. Mel makes ADC a better and happier depot to work at.

James has been nominated as he is the definition of an outstanding colleague. When a teammate reached out in crisis, feeling suicidal, James acted immediately. He kept the colleague talking while calling the police, who were able to reach the scene and prevent a tragedy. When asked if anyone could care for the colleague, James didn’t hesitate—he left work, welcomed him into his home, and supported him through the night. Thanks to James’s quick thinking and compassion, that colleague is now safe, supported, and back at work. James is known for his positivity, work ethic, and willingness to help anyone. His actions went far beyond expectation—he quite literally saved a life. James truly embodies everything Asda stands for.

Rob has been nominated for consistently going above and beyond in every aspect of his role. Over the years, he has been an incredible support to me and many others, always putting his full effort into everything he does. His dedication to the company and his team is unwavering, and his hard work has made a real difference. Rob’s loyalty and commitment shine through in every task, making him an invaluable asset. Rob has given his continuous dedication always been professional, and they had a really positive impact on everyone around him.

Dean has been nominated for consistently driving the brand forward with a strong focus on helping people reach their full potential. His commitment to ensuring everyone receives consistent, high-quality training—and his willingness to go above and beyond—has made training a core part of everything we do well.

Dhurvill has been nominated for always supporting the store when needed. He has done really well to bring the stock reduction in warehouse and YOP stocking and make the availability strong for store and customers.

Emma has been nominated as she isn’t only the section leader for fresh, she also takes on the responsibility of taking care of the produce department. She works endless hours to make sure her departments are organised and in order. This award would mean everything to her! and really no one deserves it more.

Both Thalia and Timothy have been nominated as they continue to do excellent work in the learning and development sphere. PG Tips (professional growth tips) career conversations have been very popular over the last year. They have interviewed Allan Leighton, Chris Hall, Matt McLellan and many more.

Stevie has been nominated for creating 'Code Red'—a proactive Tannoy alert system introduced at Dalgety Bay to deter theft. When known individuals enter the store or conceal items, an announcement prompts all available colleagues to move to key areas like the front of store, high-value zones, and blind spots. This visible presence has significantly reduced theft, prevented conflict, and boosted colleague and security confidence. In one instance, four individuals abandoned stolen goods after a Code Red was called. With strong colleague buy-in and plans to enhance communication via VoCoVo headsets, Stevie’s idea is a standout contribution to reducing shrink and improving store safety.

Sean Haswell and Darren Metcalfe have been nominated for their brilliant idea to improve how the put walls are set up onsite. By moving them to the end of the conveyor belt, they removed the need to shift totes across the floor—cutting down on delays and instantly boosting productivity. The change made a big difference at the North East clothing depot and was quickly picked up by two other sites, both seeing similar improvements. Their idea is a great example of practical innovation, teamwork, and a deep understanding of operational flow. It’s made a real impact and shows exactly why they deserve the Idea of the Year award.

Megan has been nominated as she chose to separate her back up into date order, rather than by product to help our back of hours process in produce. This has meant that regardless of who is working the area, dates in the back up are never missed. A slight change but it’s really moved our dates rotation process forward.

During a National Colleague Voice forum for which Helen is a representative, she raised an idea she had to help with the increasing number of customers attempting to exit stores, often unwittingly, without paying due to the slowness of the payment system. She suggested that while the team developed solution to improve the efficiency of the system, we use the technology we already had in place by adding a voice message to our self-checkouts that would say 'please wait while we process your payment'. Since the checkout message has been in place there has been a significant drop in customer walk offs, saving the company money, improving customer experience and less security interactions keeping them safer. She is delighted that her idea was used, and she hopes it encourages and empowers other colleagues to do the same!

Faraz and Lyndon have been nominated for working together to create an automated daily jotter for the home shopping departments in stores which removed the tasks from stores of having complete their daily overview. By pulling the forecast / actual items, colleague schedule data and pick speed, all into one live automated perform report. Stores can use this, live in the moment and without spending long periods writing out manually the rotas. Brilliant idea that will save the stores time and support them to become more efficient and reactive when not hitting hourly targets.

Bilal Chaudhary has been nominated for Leader of the Year for his exceptional leadership and positive impact at Asda Wembley. He combines vision, integrity, and strong communication to inspire and motivate his team. Under his guidance, key KRAs have been achieved and shop standards improved. His innovative approach has saved £26k in waste and enhanced cost efficiency. Bilal has effectively led both eComm and GM operations, demonstrating resilience and strategic thinking. Calm under pressure and confident in decision-making, Bilal consistently delivers results. He truly embodies the qualities of an outstanding leader and is well deserving of this recognition.

Chris has been nominated for the Leader of the Year award for consistently supporting, challenging, and inspiring his team. He encourages others to step outside their comfort zones while offering genuine care and dependable support. Selfless and team-focused, Chris always puts people and the business first. He creates a space where everyone feels heard, valued, and safe to ask questions. With deep industry knowledge, he’s the go-to person for insight and clarity. Chris leads by example, setting high standards through his actions while showing empathy and understanding. He ensures he’s up to date with changes so his team can succeed. Chris motivates and uplifts those around him—bringing out the best in everyone through his exceptional leadership

Mark has been nominated how he handled a very tragic situation that impacted him and all of his colleagues in the store. An ex-colleagues passed away in the foyer under terrible circumstances. Mark put his own feelings and emotion aside, support the colleagues’ friends and family whilst also dealing with the practicalities of the police, ambulance crew, the press as well as the day-to-day operations of the store. That week, Mark supported colleagues through a very difficult time whilst still delivering for the customers.

Natalie Moffat is nominated for the Leader of the Year award for her outstanding impact at the Gosforth store. Since joining as Operations Manager 2.5 years ago, Natalie has played a key role in transforming the store environment. When she arrived, the team faced significant challenges. Today, those same colleagues are thriving and delivering excellent results. While the wider team contributed to this turnaround, Natalie has been the driving force. Her leadership, positivity, and dedication have made a lasting difference. She leads by example, inspires those around her, and genuinely cares about her team and the store’s success. Natalie consistently upholds high standards with empathy and professionalism, making her a true role model and asset to the business.

Rachel has been nominated as she has brought fun and engagement to the store, boosting team spirit with exciting events and manager involvement. Over the May bank holiday weekend, she organised a food-themed dress-up, even convincing me to wear a hot dog costume. Remarkably, Rachel lost her dad just days before but still came to work, determined not to let her colleagues down. Despite being advised to take bereavement leave, she stayed and helped create a joyful atmosphere, putting others before herself during a difficult time. Rachel’s strength and dedication deeply impressed everyone, and we’re all grateful for her kindness and commitment to the team.

Nicky has been nominated because she is the perfect example of a community colleague. She goes above and beyond to support vulnerable local charities, despite working in a high-poverty area with many families who don’t speak English as a first language. Nicky also works as a support assistant for adults with learning disabilities, making her invaluable to the community. She skilfully manages fundraising, giving her time, and works with diverse groups—from dementia to children with disabilities—with empathy and kindness. Last year, she helped a community centre secure an £18,000 grant, earning praise from the local MP. Nicky’s dedication and warmth make her truly deserving of this award. She also raised awareness for homeless people through a sleep-out event, creating an Asda-themed shelter to highlight rough sleeping issues near her store. Nicky’s dedication, warmth, and understanding of her community make her truly deserving of this award.

Mavis, who recently turned 83 and has worked at our Folkestone store since it opened in 2007—nearly 18 years ago, has been nominated because she is loved by customers and colleagues alike, many regulars happily queue just to be served by her, even when other tills are open. Mavis has a wonderful personal touch, treating everyone like family and brightening days with her smile and cheerful manner. Despite her age, she works three days a week and loves her job. Her fantastic service keeps customers returning. Mavis must be one of Asda’s oldest serving colleagues and is determined to continue for the customers she enjoys serving every day.

Linda has been nominated for her incredible community work. She organized 10 pallets of food donations to local food banks after the Downpatrick flood, working with three food banks to deliver and distribute the stock just before Christmas. Linda has also tirelessly secured funding for local groups and emergency donations during recent storms and after a fire destroyed five homes. She truly embodies Asda’s values and is a credit to our store and community.

Kelly has been nominated as she deeply cares about her colleagues’ wellbeing and regularly checks in to offer support. This year, she went above and beyond for a colleague whose family was targeted in a scam. Kelly stayed by their side, liaising with police, the bank, and specialist support teams. Her compassion and quick action prevented further financial loss and ensured the colleague felt supported during a vulnerable time. Kelly’s dedication highlights how much she values and looks after her team.

Jason has been nominated as his team say he is the glue keeping home shopping running smoothly. He connects drivers, section leaders, and management, always working hard to prepare loads quickly and help drivers minimise delays. With experience as a driver himself, he’s a valuable source of information and steps in as a driver buster when needed. Jason also supports the warehouse by handling fresh deliveries and tidying up during quiet times. His dedication and efficiency make a tough job look easy, earning high respect from colleagues and management alike.

Jacob has been nominated as he is known for his friendliness and helpfulness, he consistently goes the extra mile—especially for disabled customers. One standout moment was when Jacob kindly assisted a customer who had an accident in their wheelchair, an act witnessed and praised by another customer. His caring attitude, even when no one is watching, makes Jacob a shining example of dedication and compassion in our store.

Mandy has been nominated every month since our Colleague of the Month program began, reflecting her outstanding dedication and support across the store. As Customer Community Champion, she’s exceeded fundraising targets and secured vital support for local causes, including emergency aid for fire-affected residents. She also leads colleague initiatives that boost morale, making her a truly valued and inspiring member of the team.

Donna has been nominated as she is a colleague who loves to help each individual. She is very good at what she does, very respectful, honest, and she brings out the best and goes the extra mile for her colleagues and for the community.

Joseph has been nominated for his kind nature and always going the extra mile for colleagues and customers. One example is when he helped a customer who had recently lost her husband and was struggling with her front door—he fixed her locks, cut her grass, and did some weeding in his own time. He has also changed a customer’s tyre, regularly cuts an elderly gentleman’s grass with his son, personally bought and delivered a meal for a customer, picked up a prescription for another, and helped put up a fence. Even when awarded star points, he donates them to charity or buys food for food banks. He truly has a heart of gold.

Emma has been nominated for her tireless efforts to help families in the local area where there had been a devastating explosion in her local area. 16 households were unable to gain access to their properties so literally had the clothes on their backs. Emma worked hard, even on her days off to communicate with the local council to gain as much information as she could to support these families. She manager to secure some additional funds and liaised with other local businesses and colleagues from store to provide these devastated families with food, clothing, toiletries, toys, nappies and baby milk. She then cooked breakfast and lunch at the local church for the residents, emergency services and construction teams. She has been described as an absolute powerhouse!

Damon has been nominated for this award because his quick thinking saved a life! Damon was out driving a van and came across a woman receiving CPR at the side of the road. As she was already getting support, so he quickly thought what the next best thing to do was and located a defibrillator. Damon drove to the Welsh blood service car park and sounded his horn to the security guard. He made him award of the situation, and they got the defib and took it to the woman who was receiving CPR. Damon then became the call handler with the ambulance service whilst a trained nurse used the defib. After CPR and 3 shocks to the heart the woman began having a pulse output. The woman was taken to hospital and fully recovered. Damon’s quick thinking really did save a life.

Carl has been nominated for saving a customers’ life. He attended a customer who had collapsed in the customer cafe, identified that she was not breathing, not having time to collect the defib decided to conduct manual CPR resulting in the lady regaining a pulse and consciousness after a short period of time. The customer stopped breathing again and had no pulse. Carl started manual CPR again. When the paramedic arrived and conducted tests, she confirmed that the casualty would have not survived without Carl’s intervention. Carl is a credit to the store in every aspect of his role and this act of heroism just sums up the type of person Carl is. A total asset to the business and an all-round fantastic colleague and human.

This nomination for Jordan, Fish Buyer, was so full of Asda personality, we thought it deserved to be shared in full! Well done Kelly-Anne McQueen for a great nomination:

🏆Colleague of the year nomination – captain Jordan, our fearless fish buyer 🐟. If there were a superhero for seafood, it would be captain Jordan. Since joining us in February 2022, she has been the heart and soul of our fish operation—and frankly, we’re not sure where the fish ends and Jordan begins. Known affectionately (and accurately) as Mrs fish, there’s simply nothing she doesn’t know about the world beneath the waves. She even lives in Grimsby—the spiritual home of fish—because of course she does. That's dedication you can’t fake. But Jordan isn’t just all fish puns and cod facts (though we love those too). What truly makes her stand out is how she throws her whole heart into making our business better every single day. Stakeholders across the board—technical, supply, merchandising—can’t stop singing her praises. My inbox is permanently overflowing with messages that essentially say: “we love Jordan.” and who can blame them? Let’s dive into just a few of the reasons she’s a star:🐟 value hunter extraordinaire: Jordan used her deep industry know-how to unlock a whopping £4 million in savings on salmon alone. That’s not just smart buying—it’s transformational, and its money we're using to reinvest into better prices for customers. legendary. ♻️ waste warrior: Jordan hates waste like fish hate warm water. Working hand in fin with supply and merchandising, she’s used data and precision planning to ensure the right products are in the right stores at the right time. Not only is this stabilising our waste position—it’s actively helping reduce gaps on shelf, keeping customers happy and sales flowing. 🤝 one team champion.

Louise has been nominated for always being there to support. She always returns emails and phone call on the same day; if a colleague needs assistance Louise will always help even if it’s not in her area, she will point in the right direction. Examples include supporting a concession in a store that had written a letter that required a legal response, helping with a home shopping incident where the insurance company refused a repair, and assisting in a case where a customer threatened legal action after being stopped in store. Louise is always helpful—nothing is ever too much trouble.

Colette has been nominated for being a team play and always showing enthusiasm, energy and passion! She ensures that both customer and colleague experience is first class. She has been pivotal in landing future for on-shore colleagues and off-shore colleague via our partners. Her knowledge and experience has helped to guide not only our team but wider teams. We will always use her experience to help guide others and challenge in the right way to ensure we are not compromising our service delivery for customers. She has worked through the night, supported weekend cover, and consistently stepped up with a positive attitude—always smiling and quickly resolving issues with effective mitigation plans.