The first Asda Express store has opened in the county after the chain’s takeover of several former Co-op branches.

The petrol station site in Tothill Street, Minster, has now reopened under the supermarket’s convenience branding and is welcoming customers today.

Earlier this month, KentOnline reported the site would become an Asda Express following an announcement from the retail giant it had taken over more than 100 Co-ops across the UK.

Asda announced it would be converting 116 convenience stores and attached petrol station forecourts.

This week, a further 14 stores opened as part of the programme, bringing the total number of converted stores to 25, with Minster being the first in the county.

Other Kent stores set to open as Asda Express stores include Medway, Swanley and Bobbing – although opening dates for those have yet to be announced.

Three Co-ops in Medway are set to be converted – in Salters Cross, Strood, Beechings Way, Twydall, and City Way, Rochester.

The other locations in Kent will be in Swanley High Street and Sheppey Way, Bobbing.

The existing petrol station in Rainham high street operates under the main Asda brand.

It is expected all the new Express sites will be converted by March next year with about 2,300 workers currently employed by Co-op stores transferring to Asda.

Andy Perry from Convenience at Asda said: “This conversion programme is an incredibly exciting moment for our business and accelerates our presence in the fast-growing convenience market.

“We look forward to bringing Asda’s great value in fuel and groceries to many more communities across the UK and to welcoming over 2,000 former Co-op colleagues to the Asda family in the coming months.”