New-look Aldi store reopens in Little Coates
MORE EXPANSION PLANS PROMISED FOR NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE
SUPERMARKET giant Aldi are poised to invest in new stores and more refurbishments in North East Lincolnshire.
Shoppers welcomed the new look and wider space to Aldi’s Little Coates store on Cambridge Road at its opening yesterday.
It is the first store in the borough to use smart electronic shelf labelling to let customers know where the best prices area.
The firm has also started work on the long-awaited Scartho Top store which is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Aldi is also discussing options for a new store in Cleethorpes - but its location is still being kept under wraps.
The Cambridge Road store has a new entrance to the car park and a bright new foyer.
It opened in 2009 and was closed for the past seven weeks to create more space for customers.
There are now seven checkouts. Four additional staff have been employed following the revamp to create a total of 32 staff.
The car park, which has been totally resurfaced and lined, was full on its first day of opening and in the coming months some of the new parking bays with have electric charging points.
The store has grown to 1,232 sqm of retail space from its original 973sqm.
Aldi bosses said the new layout was created “to make shopping even easier for customers, with the store now having an additional aisle and clearer signs to make shopping effortless”.
Fresh bread and cakes have been moved to the last aisle, preventing them from getting squashed under customers’ shopping and the store will now offer new, easy-to-browse freezers which have increased from 16 to 22 and six new chillers.
The Specials aisle, an iconic characteristic of Aldi stores has also expanded, so people can have the choice of buying telescopes, pressure washers, power tools and wood burners.
There are also new ranges to celebrate Halloween and Christmas. The Cambridge Road store is also supporting needy groups in the community with a donations bin.
“It feels like we have been closed for a long time but it is great to be back in business,” said store manager Jay Wilder.
He began as an Aldi store assistant 15 years ago and graduated to become a manger seven years ago.
He added: “People have had to travel further to our stores in Immingham, Louth and Cleethorpe Road. The Cleethorpe Road store has seen a significant upturn in trade while we were closed. It will be undergoing a similar refurbishment early next year.
“Work is progressing on the Scartho Top site and work will fully get underway in the middle part of next year and hopefully completed by the end of the year. It will be the same size as us. Aldi are looking at options for Cleethorpes.”
He showed off the plush new toilet, with disabled access and baby-changing facilities.
Little Coates customers can also take a walk down the ‘Aisle of Aldi,’ where they will find legendary Specialbuys which are available every Thursday and Sunday.
During reopening week, the store will be running its Pet Event, including comfy pet beds from £8.99, a dog towel coat for £6.99 and slanted pet bowls for £4.99.
Shopper Theresa Paton joined her mum Fran Jesper browsing the new look aisles.
“The shop looks lovely. It is fabulous,” said Theresa.
Mum Fran said: “I have missed it so much- not being able to come down. It is getting busier and busier.”
Shaun McHugh and his grand daughter Ava Grace, three, enjoyed their first visit since the refurbishment.
“It is a lot easier to get down the aisles now they are wider,” he said.
The store is open from 8am to 10pm every day except Sundays when it is open 10am to 4pm.