New Year Honours for Asda colleagues who've done so much to help this year

Congratulations to the nine Asda colleagues who've been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list for their work during the pandemic.

Two Asda colleagues – Paul Miller and Daniel Owens – have been awarded with an MBE while there are British Empire Medals for Rachel Webber, June Walker, Connor Wilkinson, Rafal Olbert, James Cameron, Sarah Cairns and Sarah Joyce.

Following approval from the Queen, hundreds of additional people have been honoured for their contributions in tackling the virus and supporting their communities. Doctors, nurses, retailers, fundraisers, and volunteers are among those recognised.

Paul worked tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of colleagues and customers. He assessed more than 40 roles from across our business to create an extensive risk management programme for each as well as carefully reviewing around 50 chemicals, PPE and equipment.

Daniel, who's our online grocery development manager, played a critical role in dramatically increasing the number of home delivery customers who could be served on our website, including the retailers most vulnerable and shielding customers.

Roger Burnley, Asda CEO & President, said: “I cannot express how proud we all are to have nine colleagues recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list. These colleagues and thousands of others across our stores, depots and head offices have done an amazing job looking after our customers during difficult and challenging circumstances this year. I want to extend my thanks and gratitude to them all for the way in which they have risen to the challenges of the pandemic and how they continue to play their vital role in feeding the nation."

Rachel Webber, who's our Gosport store's community champion, has been honoured in recognition for her work helping the local community during the last few months, when she organised telephone calls for isolated people and distributed care packages for frontline NHS staff and care workers.

She said: "We've had a really rough year as a family so getting this award was really great. It means that all the hard work has paid off. But although It's me getting the award, I don't feel that it's just for me, it's for everyone else who's helped me especially my family and Heidi the community champion from our Fareham store as we're a great team."

June Walker, who's our Donnington Wood store's community champion, says she was totally shocked when she found out that she was to be awarded a British Empire Medal.

She said: "I was really shocked at first, because I'm just doing my job. I'm very proud and very humbled to receive such an honour. I love my job – I live and breathe it. I love helping out in the community. I love meeting new people and I love making people smile. It costs nothing, does it. After the year we've all had it's good to end it on something nice."