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20
Nov
GALLERY: Tesco fulfils its HG dream as Ripon supermarket opens
Retail giant Tesco, which has long desired a supermarket in the HG postcode, saw its wish come true at 8am this morning in Ripon.
The biggest shake-up in the city’s grocery offer since M&S opened its Simply Food Store at Rotary Way in July 2020 is likely to put pressure on rivals Sainsbury’s and Morrisons to up their game.
You can read what retail experts have to say about the impact of Tesco on supermarket wars in Ripon here.
Richard Butcher (cream jacket) is pictured with some of his 125 colleagues.
Particularly pleasing for store manager Richard Butcher and his 125 colleagues is the fact that the 18,000 sq ft store has been delivered in record time, ready for the crucial Christmas trading period and before the first window has opened on the extensive selection of Advent calendars.
Mr Butcher, who has worked at Tesco for 15 years, told the Stray Ferret:
The store is opening before Advent and the run-up to Christmas.
With our new-build Harrogate superstore yet to open, we are honoured to be fulfilling the company’s wish of becoming the first Tesco superstore to open in the HG postcode.
Tesco Ripon, with café and parking for more than 300 cars, replaces the upmarket grocer Booths, which had been the anchor store for the Marshall Way development since it opened in 2009.
Like the former Booths, the store includes a stylish café.
Former Booths’ shoppers will notice a marked difference between the old store and Tesco.
In May, the Stray Ferret exclusively revealed that the lease for the property was changing hands after a proposed rent increase proved the final straw for the retailer and its niche market towns operation.
Vet and TV personality Julian Norton was not present for today's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
More photos from this morning's opening
The Mayor of Ripon, Cllr Barbara Brodigan, along with hornblower Adrian Mardon and sergeant-at-mace Geoffrey Johnson, gave Tesco a civic welcome to the city.
There was a steady flow of customers from 8am when the doors opened.
To mark the opening, Tesco made a donation of £1,000 to Ripon Community House. Amanda Kelly received the cheque from Richard Butcher.
(from left) Sean, Anthony and Steve, who were among the army of builders and other construction workers who got the store ready in record time.
The deli offers a wide range of goods.
From the left, Kaitlyn, Gemma and Megan, were on hand to show customers around the store.
The in-store bakery
Children and teachers from Holy Trinity Primary and Outwood Academy were invited to look around the new store.
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