We're offering a 10% discount at all our store cafes until this Sunday – and we're encouraging customers who might otherwise be on their own to come in, sit down and chat to people over a cuppa.
The initiative follows research which suggests the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6, and that 31% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they feel lonely often or all the time.
Our move to do our bit to help tackle loneliness and isolation in our communities builds on the success of Asda Warrington's Community Café Friendship Group which was launched two years ago by the store's community champion Liz Cotterill.
She said: "Our group meets every other Monday and has gone from strength to strength. It's a great place to meet new people and make new friends. We chat, play dominoes, bring knitting and make cards all over a cup of tea and a piece of cake.
"We welcome everyone to the group and we're proud that other stores have similar groups now up and down the country.
"We have a lovely bunch here and since we've started many of our members socialise with each other outside of the group which is brilliant."
Other Asda stores including at Westbrook, Birchwood, Wigan and Duffryn in Wales have also started friendship groups and Liz hopes more will follow.
Asda is at the heart of many local communities, so we believe we've got a responsibility to play a role in supporting colleagues and customers and to help tackle real-life issues in their local areas.
The discount reinforces the aim of transforming Asda stores into a local hub that builds connected communities and tackles issues that matter the most to the people within them.
The 10% discount can be used on all café purchases whether you’re in a group, a couple or visiting on your own.
You can find your nearest Asda Café here.
