Bouquet for the first customer
Here is our report of the opening of a new supermarket in town from the paper on May 12 1978: THE new Presto supermarket in Castle Street’s Britannia Centre opened its doors to the public on Tuesday morning with a large bouquet of flowers presented by the general manager, Mr Robert Smart, for the first custom- er.
That was Mrs May Sanders of 48 Palmer Road, Hinckley, who was very pleased and surprised at the gift.
She said: “It’s really made my day. I suffer from arthritis and have had to have a neck X-ray. I’m wearing a paper collar today while waiting for the proper one to come.”
The new store is the first and largest unit to open in the Britannia Centre. Mr Smart, who has moved to Hinckley from the Presto store in Bristol, says the next nearest Presto store is at Halesowen, Birmingham.
Tuesday morning saw a large crowd forming outside the doors stretching back into the centre towards Castle Street.
As well as the bouquet for the first customer, Mr Smart said there would be another one presented later in the day – for the 500th customer.
The staff are attractively dressed in yellow overalls with brown cuffs, pockets and collars and the store itself gives an atmosphere of light and space with all the sections clearly marked.
Special departments contain fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and there are also sections for wines and spirits, household goods and kitchen accessories.
On Wednesday morning the general manager, Mr Smart, said there had been 2,000 customers the previous day, a figure he was well pleased with. “It is well up to our expectations,” he said.