Jan. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Asda, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s U.K. supermarket chain, said it plans to create 7,000 jobs this year as it adds more store space, bulks up its Internet operations and sells more goods besides food.

Asda said today it will work with government and private recruiters to find full and part-time staff who’ve been jobless for more than six months. The Leeds, England-based discount retailer will expand its existing stores as well as open nine supermarkets and five “Asda Living” outlets, a statement said, while the online division will hire 2,000 people.

Asda, the U.K.’s second-largest grocery chain, reported sales growth for the end of last year that surpassed that of bigger rival Tesco Plc. Supermarket owners from William Morrison Supermarkets Plc to J Sainsbury Plc have announced plans to hire and expand this year, seeking to increase their market share as the U.K. enters recession.

“We will create 7,000 new jobs at a time when many companies are having to lay people off,” Andy Bond, chief executive officer of Asda, said in the statement.

Sainsbury said this month it will hire up to 4,000 new staff this year and increase store space by 4 percent. Morrison plans to hire 5,000 people this year and train more staff to become butchers, bakers and fishmongers.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Cleary in London at acleary7@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 28, 2009 03:08 EST