Asda vows to bring back Black Friday after 'phenomenal' response

(Freuds)

Despite Asda’s Black Friday sales being marred by violence, the supermarket giant has said the US tradition of heavy discounting on the first Friday after Thanksgiving is set to stay in the UK.

The company sold items including a £99 32-inch LED TV and £49 tablets — shifting 16,000 in less than an hour — leaving customers to queue for several hours.

However, when doors opened, some were left empty-handed in the stampede.

In Bristol, one man was arrested after an argument broke out when he was told he could only buy one of the reduced televisions.

Andrew Moore, chief merchandising officer responsible for George and non-food at Asda, said: “The reaction to our Black Friday sale has been phenomenal. This is how customers react to genuine deals, not gimmicks and promotions.

“We have put a stake in the ground for any other retailers who will try to follow our lead next year.”

The grocer also revealed the country’s love affair with the onesie is continuing, as oversized baby-gros favoured by celebrities including Brad Pitt, Holly Willoughby and Tom Daley are raking in £1 million every week. Two million have been sold in the past month and a further one million are expected to go before the year’s end.

Chief executive Andy Clark is targeting 375,000 fresh turkey sales this month and said its £10 champagne offers were up 35 per cent compared with a year ago.