Supermarket chain Asda has announced it will not be part of Black Friday this year, citing “shopper fatigue” around the one-day sales event.

Asda, owned by United States-based retailer Walmart, is widely credited with introducing Black Friday to the UK from the US in 2013, but faced criticism for its poor handling of the event last year when shoppers fought over deals in some of its stores.

However, Asda chief executive Andy Clarke said yesterday the decision to move away from Black Friday was not about the event itself, but rather that customers said they would prefer deals on products that impacted on their everyday lives, such as Christmas food and drink and household basics.

As a result, Asda says it is to invest £26million of savings for shoppers across the season rather than focus on a one-off day of promotions on big-ticket items.

Mr Clarke said: “Over the last two years we’ve developed an organised, well-executed plan, but this year customers have told us loud and clear that they don’t want to be held hostage to a day or two of sales.

“With an ever-changing retail landscape, now more than ever we must listen carefully to exactly what our shoppers want and be primed and ready to act the minute their needs change.

“When it comes to putting customers first, Asda has always led the way, which is why we’re just as confident in our decision to step away from Black Friday as we were in introducing it to the UK.”