We’re not here to take over Welshpool: Tesco

09/03/2011 @ 03:36

Welshpool’s new £37 million Tesco will be open to shoppers 24 hours a day from Monday with only Sundays reverting to 10am-4pm, it has been confirmed.

Initially it was believed that only the petrol station would operate a 24-hour rota, but store manager Linda McGill (right) has confirmed to mywelshpool that the entire supermarket will be open around the clock.

“We are really looking forward to serving the community,” said Miss McGill, who added that only alcohol would not be on sale after midnight. “It is all very frantic as is always the case with new store openings but I can assure everyone in the Welshpool area that we will be ready for business come Monday morning.”

Nearly 200 people have been hired by Tesco but, surprisingly and despite rising local unemployment, there are still jobs to be filled.

“The team we have assembled is fantastic and the store is looking phenomenal,” she said. “The look of the store is different to the normal Tesco design and is being trialled in Welshpool before being rolled out to other stores.”

Local traders have expressed concern that the edge-of-town development will stop shoppers visiting the town centre and threaten their survival. Not so says the store manager who has been with Tesco for 23 years since starting as a 16 year-old cashier.

“We are not here to put anyone out of business,” she said. “There are some fantastic businesses in the town centre which have been popular for many years with local shoppers and I am sure they will continue to be popular. Welshpool is a wonderful town with the friendliest people. We are not taking over Welshpool. We just want to enhance and build on what is already here.”

Mywelshpool obtained an exclusive peek inside the store (above and right) and the first thing that hits you is its size and range of stock. From Monday onwards, Welshpool shoppers will be able to buy anything from an iPod and DVDs to children’s clothes and fresh bread at 3am if need be!