About 70 of Asda's 259 UK stores have chaplains

As well as the weekly groceries, you can bag the latest fashions, widescreen televisions, motor insurance and fine wines.

But now one-stop-shopping has reached heavenly heights with an Asda initiative to introduce chaplains to all of its 259 UK stores.

The latest minister to join their ranks is Rev Joseph McEwen who will be offering succour to shoppers at the Elgin branch.

He was inspired to take on the job after conducting a wedding in the store in October last year.

Now he will be given a room inside Asda, which is close to two of the UK's biggest RAF bases - Kinloss and Lossiemouth - and employs many spouses of airmen among its 460 staff.

Known to some as the Pasta Pastor, Rev McEwen says his role is to be a weekly "listening ear".

I won't be setting up shop at the end of the drinks aisle to tut-tut at someone's trolley, a little wine can be good for your stomach Rev Joseph McEwen Asda chaplain

He added: "There are many in this area who have loved ones preparing to serve in the Gulf.

"Obviously they will have concerns over that, and I hope my being here helps.

"I see no conflict by taking the word of God into a supermarket, after all, Jesus preached in the market place.

"These are just the sort of places people come to, particularly older people, and most are looking for some community value out of it.

'Too busy for church'

"That's the reality of this situation.

"But I won't be setting up shop at the end of the drinks aisle to tut-tut at someone's trolley, a little wine can be good for your stomach."

If his presence is a success, Rev McEwen hopes to hold meetings at the store on Sundays, but he says that Asda will never replace the traditional venues for worship.

The store's events organisers, Sarah Hawker and Ginny Slater, are behind the initiative.

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Sarah said the move was a part of Asda's bid to be involved in the local community of Elgin.

She added that the "walk and talk" rather than "meet and preach" resource will be offered to both customers and colleagues.

"Rev McEwen will be able to use a room at the store, it will be very informal.

"Staff at Asda think this is a really good idea and having canvassed the views of some of the customers, we are sure it will be a welcome service.

"The idea is that staff and customers can talk to the minister about whatever they wish.

"People might be too busy to call into a church to see the minister, having him here might just persuade them to stop and talk rather than suffer in silence," said Sarah.

Rev McEwen now joins 70 chaplains who are spreading the word at some of Asda's UK stores.

But the company's initiative is not just about offering a listening ear from a Christian minister.