RETAIL NEWS – multiples
Tesco invests £2.3m in Knocknagoney store refresh Store Manager Nicola Irvine
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esco has unveiled its ‘next generation shopping experience’ at its flagship store in Knocknagoney, which has undergone an extensive £2.3m refresh. The store, which overlooks the main Belfast to Holywood Road and first opened its doors
15 years ago, is one of the best performing of Tesco’s 55 stores in Northern Ireland and attracts more than 2.5 million shoppers a year. As part of the eight-week refresh, Tesco has rolled out a number of fresh initiatives including the province’s first Beautyworld and a Virgin Travel outlet. Non-food areas have also been given a new upmarket department store look. The project is part of a £44.5m overall investment in Northern Ireland stores this year by Tesco, with around £35m being spent on a new Extra store in Banbridge. Thirty new jobs - nine of which will be in Beauty - will bring the overall number of employees at Knocknagoney to 460. Store manager Nicola Irvine said she is immensely proud Tesco has chosen to commence the roll-out of its ‘next generation’ Extra store at Knocknagoney, which will include more than 1,000 lines of Northern Ireland-sourced food and drink from 80 suppliers. “The changes have been significant and
Three local producers secure Asda contracts T
hree Co. Armagh-based food companies have secured supply deals with 16 local Asda stores totalling 45,000 units of vegetables, 7,000 bouquets and 5,000 bottles of cider. Gilfresh Produce will Pictured are, from left, Sara Rafferty, Gilfresh supply ‘Tenderheart’ cabbage Produce; Shane Donnelly, Derrylard Nurseries/ Greenisland Flowers; Billy McClelland, quality and new season local leeks assurance manager and Susanna Hassard, buying to the retailer and Derrylard manager for Asda NI & Scotland; and Helen Troughton of Armagh Cider Company. Nurseries will be supplying celery, two varieties of lettuce and colourful ‘stock’ flowers. The Asda Buying Team has also signed a contract with Armagh Cider Company to supply its famous cider varieties Maddens Mellow and Carsons Crisp, as well as spiced mulled cider later in the year. “Supporting and working with local companies is hugely important to everyone on the Asda buying team,” said Susanna Hassard, regional buying manager for Asda NI and Scotland. “Our customers love to see NI products on the shelves and know we’re benefiting local companies and local employment. Northern Ireland, and County Armagh in particular, is a hotbed of quality producers and our new contracts with these three local businesses just go to show the fantastically high calibre of the companies producing fantastic food right here on our doorstep.” Helen Troughton, of the Armagh Cider Company, said: “It’s great to see Asda championing local companies and we’re excited to see our products on more supermarket shelves around the country. We’ve always wanted to bring the unique flavour of Armagh Apples to the wider world and our new deal with Asda is a great step forward in that plan.” 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
with the addition of many new features including Beautyworld, we believe we are offering shoppers something completely new and different,” said Irvine. “This is now a location where, under one roof, they can do their ‘shop’, relax, chill and even pamper themselves. “As well as the first Virgin Travel outlet and Beautyworld in Northern Ireland, we have added a Phone Shop and the province’s first Tesco Community room where local groups can meet. It really is a signature project.” “The feedback already has been very strong and we’re delighted also to announce plans to host Tesco Northern Ireland’s first ‘indoor market’ featuring 16 local suppliers.” In Tesco stores, all Northern Ireland food and drink including over 1,200 product lines from 90-plus local suppliers is labelled and promoted on shelf with the distinctive green and purple Taste Northern Ireland logo. Local suppliers include Punjana, Dale Farm, Skea Eggs, Moy Park, Foyle Meats, Karro, Finnebrogue, Doherty & Gray, Wilson’s Country, Irwin’s Bakery and Allied Bakeries.
Asda lists award-winning Thompson’s Family Teas
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sda customers are now able to enjoy the UK’s best ‘cuppa’, with Belfast-based Thompson’s Family Teas supplying its double gold award-winning Signature Blend tea to stores across Northern Ireland. The family-run business, which has been blending tea Susanna Hassard from Asda is pictured with Ross Thompson and David Thompson from for over 100 years, enjoyed Thompson’s Family Teas. podium success with its Signature Blend tea at last year’s Great Taste Awards; as the only UK tea company to claim two gold stars. “At Asda, we’re committed to supporting the local agri-food sector and have worked in close partnership with the Thompson family and their team over the last number of years, expanding our offering to meet our customers’ demand for high quality products,” said Susanna Hassard, local buyer for Asda Northern Ireland. “Each year hundreds of products are entered into the Great Taste Awards to be judged by a panel of leading food experts, so for the Signature Blend tea to rank amongst the best is a fantastic feat. We’re delighted to be able to fill our shelves with the number one tea on the market – offering our customers the perfect tea drinking experience.” Thompson’s Family Teas Signature Blend are available in all 16 Asda stores across NI at a special price of £2. The new line will complement the existing range of products supplied to Asda by Thompson’s Family Teas including the company’s hero brand Punjana.
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