‘Asda turnaround could take three to five years’: Allan Leighton returns to run retailer

Allan Leighton says he will have put together a revival plan by the end of January. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

It could take three to five years to revive Asda’s fortunes, according to the veteran retail boss Allan Leighton, who first helped turn around the supermarket chain more than 20 years ago.

Speaking to the Guardian on his first day in the job as executive chairman, Leighton, who has taken over from fellow retail veteran Stuart Rose, said his first priority was to “restore Asda’s DNA”, which included improving price.