Kentish Express Ashford & District
Haribo opening draws huge crowd
The highly-anticipated opening of a sweet shop prompted one fan to travel more than 60 miles to get there.
Scores of shoppers started queuing as early as 8.30am for the opening of the county’s first Haribo shop at the Designer Outlet.
Retail bosses previously announced the first 100 visitors would receive a goody bag - prompting more than 150 people to form a large queue outside the store on Thursday.
Jodie Buttle, 23, set off from East Grinstead in West Sussex just before 8am to make it to the shopping centre in time to get one of the goody bags available to the first visitors.
After making the journey with dad Clive, she arrived at 9.30am to be one of the first in line at the 11am opening.
She told the Kentish Express how she had come “with the great persuasion of a free goody bag. I just love sweets.”
Ms Buttle, said she’d read about the store’s opening online and was very excited about the launch of Kent’s first Haribo store.
The Haribo gold bear welcomed visitors into the 1,360 sq ft store from 11am - which is positioned in an old section of the centre next to Lindt.
The new store opening is the fifth in the country, as shops have opened in Yorkshire, Cheshire, London and Somerset in the past two years.
Each features a pick ‘n’ mix wall filled with confectionary including Starmix.
Earlier this month, outlet centre bosses cut the ribbon on the £90 million expansion - which has seen scores of new units, a children’s playground and enlarged food piazza added to the shopping centre.
Big-brands including Five Guys, YO! Sushi, Dr. Martens, UGG and Armani have opened at the centre - with bosses expected to make more announcements expected between now and the new year.