Our Father, which art in aisle four ...

Shoppers can now give thanks for their daily bread as they pay for it at the checkout. The supermarket chain Asda is introducing chaplains to its 256 stores across the UK within the next 12 months.

More than 50 of the company's supermarkets already have at least one chaplain instore, while the remaining branches have launched a recruitment campaign with adverts in local newspapers.

The existing chaplains, representing a broad cross-section of faiths and religions, walk the shop floor of their local store at set hours every week, talking to customers and staff about everything from their personal problems to the price of fish.

Each is given an Asda name badge and honorary staff status, but receives no payment for the work.

"The idea came from the customers, really," said Philip Davies of Asda. "Somebody put a note in the suggestions box at our Broadstairs store, and it all took off from there.

"We've been really surprised by how popular it's been. Customers like to see a friendly face when they come shopping, and the staff appreciate having someone to chat to about things as well. We're aiming to have at least one chaplain in every Asda store before the end of next year.

"We want people to know that we're not just there to take their money. We want to become an integral part of the local community."

At the Asda store in Middlesbrough, the chaplain, a Church of England lay preacher, recently conducted a wedding blessing for two members of staff in the middle of the clothing department. Other existing chaplains include an imam at the chain's Leyton supermarket in east London, where prayer rooms have also been built for staff.

The Asda supermarket in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, boasts an impressive three chaplains – a Buddhist nun, a Methodist minister and a Congregationalist, who is an ex-Hell's Angel. The trio have been job-sharing for the past three months, and it's an arrangement that the store manager, Paul Middleton, says has proved very popular with staff and shoppers alike.

"The chaplains have had a genuinely positive influence on the morale and atmosphere of the store," said Mr Middleton. "They make shoppers feel more welcome, and have already started building up relationships with our regulars. We've never had a single complaint."

The staff also appear to be benefiting from the arrival of their new colleagues: Congregationalist Eddie Gorniak is bringing his choir into the store to sing carols in December, and Kelsang Tubchen, the young Buddhist nun, has been offering her fellow workers meditation lessons and free massages.