What's not to like about a day of holiday deals?

Sleepless nights and a shortened Thanksgiving holiday, for one. Fistfights, for two. Supermarket chain Asda is learning this lesson two years after pioneering Black Friday in the U.K. The Walmart-owned company witnessed long, violent lines, bedlam and chaos as customers fought over the best deals, according to a report in The Guardian.

Asda has had enough. The company announced this week that it's stepping away from Black Friday in favor of spreading out 26 million pounds in savings across the holiday shopping season. Chief executive Andy Clarke said the decision is in response to customers, who "don't want to be held hostage to a day or two of sales," according to the BBC.

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"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 U.K.," Clarke said.

Asda is not the first company to push back on the post-Thanksgiving shopping event. In October, specialty outdoor retailer REI announced that it will won't be holding any sales on Black Friday. In fact, the company is keeping all 143 of its stores closed on Nov. 27. The company won't process orders online until Saturday.

In the meantime, employees of the co-op will get a paid day off. REI is encouraging employees to spend the day outside, with a hashtag #OptOutside.

"We're a different kind of company—and while the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we'll be spending our day a little differently," said Jerry Stritzke, president and CEO. "We're choosing to opt outside, and want you to come with us."

While most companies aren't banning the shopping day altogether, some are resisting its recent creep into Thanksgiving Day. Swedish retailer H&M will be closed this Thanksgiving for its first time, instead encouraging employees to spend the day with family and friends. Lowes, Home Depot, Nordstrom, T.J. Maxx and others will also be closed that day.

Some companies can't wait for sales: Amazon.com, Walmart, Best Buy and others have kicked off online sales well in advance of the shopping event. Many of those same retailers are opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day. Take a look at the companies that have pushed back on Black Friday, and those that fully embrace the shopping event in the slides above.