A new Aldi is set to open in Knaresborough at 8am tomorrow, Thursday 28.
The 8,000 square metre site has been built on Swallowtail Way, near the Manse Farm housing development on York Road.
The store will employ 38 staff and in addition to the usual Aldi products have a food to go section.
The site includes 114 car parking spaces, plus two motorcycle bays and two spaces for electric cars.
The site has 114 car parking spaces.
The planning application, which was supported by 69 people, was approved in May.
One supporter said it could mean fewer people going into the town centre for their big shop, limiting congestion.
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Store manager Matthew Washbrook said:
“We’re really looking forward to opening the first Aldi store here in Knaresborough.
“It’s set to be a great day and it’ll be lovely to welcome our new customers into the store and provide them with access to affordable, high-quality food.”
The store plans to work with local charities and food banks in Knaresborough.
The company has asked interested food banks to contact Neighbourly, a community engagement platform, to allow them to collect surplus or perishable food.
Charities wanting to work with the store are asked to email aldi@neighbourly.com.
M&S Ripon opens with a trickle, not a floodOn a rainy Wednesday morning, there was more of a trickle than a flood of customers for the 8am opening of the new M&S Food store in Ripon.
Store manager Paul Nicoll told The Stray Ferret:
“Because of COVID-19 and the requirements for social distancing, we decided on a ‘soft’ opening to ensure the safety of customers and staff.”
He added:
“That’s why we didn’t make a big thing about publicising our first day opening time.”
The new store opened today with staff eager to serve their new customers.
The store, which is the first to open on the St Michael’s Retail Park on Rotary Way, Ripon, was scheduled to start trading on April 29, but the planned opening was put on hold because of the coronavirus crisis.
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Even with the government relaxing social distancing from two metres to one, the need for caution was evident in store, with hand sanitiser, a one way in and one way out system for customers and staff wearing masks.
The first shopper through the doors was Janis Stone of Bishop Monkton, who said:
“I’m delighted that M&S are back in Ripon, I used to go to the small store they had in the city centre until it closed.”
She added:
“I think they will do very well here.”
M&S confirms opening date for Ripon food store
Marks and Spencer has announced that it will open the doors to its food store in Ripon next month.
The new shop will open for the first time at 10am on July 15 and has created around 60 jobs in the town. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
It was originally due to open at the end of April but it was delayed because of coronavirus.
The M&S Food Store is part of the £10 million Saint Michael’s Retail Park development which was also delayed.
Ripon is currently served by four supermarkets – Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
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Store Manager, Paul Nicoll, has worked at M&S for 34 years and said he was looking forward to getting to know the local community:
“My team and I are really excited about our new store in Ripon. We’ll be working hard to provide outstanding service and help make every penny count for the community.”
What the food hall interior will look like.
As well as food, customers will also be able to shop for M&S’s full clothing and home collections through the click and collect service.
Mark Rothery, Managing Director of Rothstone Estates, said:
“Announcing the opening date is a really exciting milestone in the project. I would like to thank the Ripon community for their support and continued patience as we work hard with all parties to deliver this great investment in the city.”