Kentish Express Ashford & District
Town’s third Tesco Express set to open
Plans to convert a convenience store into the town’s third Tesco Express have emerged.
The existing One Stop in Eureka Place, Kennington, is set to be rebranded after Christmas, with the transition expected to happen early next year.
Retail bosses have submitted a planning application to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to install Tesco signage at the Trinity Road shop and upgrade the entrance of the building.
Staff employed at the current store, which sits in a parade of shops next to Coral, will be kept on.
The supermarket giant bought the One Stop chain in 2003 and staff are now set to receive an increase in pay.
A manager at the One Stop told the Kentish Express the transition will be completed in the next 10 weeks.
A Tesco spokesman confirmed the switch.
He said “We are rebranding our Eureka Place One Stop store in Ashford to a Tesco Express.
“We believe the Express brand will better serve this community, offering a broader range of both branded and Tesco own brand products, as well as more fresh food and food to go.
“Colleagues working at these stores will transfer across onto Tesco terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) regulations.
“We will share more information on dates with the community shortly.”
This will be the third Tesco Express store to open in Ashford, with shops already operating in the high street and Mace Lane.
In March 2017, the Mace Lane shop was gutted by fire following an arson attack.
Flames spread to the roof and inside the supermarket, and melted the steel girders to the point where the building was not structurally safe.
The supermarket was then closed along with the neighbouring Paydens Pharmacy shop, but it reopened in December 2017 after refurbishment work was carried out.
■ To view the Eureka Place planning application, visit www. ashford.gov and search for the 19/01601/AS reference.
■ What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk