Asda
Asda, which serves more than 2M Scottish customers a week from its 61 stores, also warned of cost increases if Scotland was to become an independent state.
Andy Clarke, president and ceo of Asda, recognised the right of Scottish people to vote on the future of their country, but said Asda’s Scottish branches would have to be treated as a separate business in an independent Scotland.
“Currently, our systems are set up for one single UK market, we use the same currency and we operate under the same rates of VAT. By operating in a market serving 63M customers we achieve major efficiencies and economies of scale.
“If we were no longer to operate in one state with one market and – broadly – one set of rules, our business model would inevitably become more complex. We would have to reflect our cost to operate here.
“This is not an argument for or against independence; it is simply an honest recognition of the costs that change could bring. For us the customer is always right and this important decision is in their hands.”