New chapter begins for M&S in Paisley
Gimmicks such as a talking Colin the Caterpillar cake and Percy Pig sweetie welcomed shoppers to the new Marks & Spencer Foodhall in Paisley.
To the soundtrack of a live piper, the Renfrew Road Retail Park store was formally opened at 9am on Wednesday by M&S veteran Elaine Gibson.
It is one of the first new-look Marks stores in Scotland and features a pick-your-own eggs stall and a giant cheese offering.
Management and shop floor staff transferred over from the Paisley High Street store, which was finally closed on Tuesday after 89 years.
The business is keen to draw a line under the bailout from the town centre, ditching clothes and instead concentrating on food.
The new shop spans 12,600 square feet and includes a bakery and a frozen food area twice the size of the High Street premises.
A total of 80 staff work at the new store, including manager Kirk Russell, who has transferred from the High Street.
Opening lures included gifts of free food and one shopper will get free shopping for the next seven days.
And those first in the queue all got flowers from the boss.
Kirk said: “The recipient will be chosen at random and whatever is in their trolley will be complimentary.
“Our Paisley customers will find our fresh produce aisles brimming with flavourful fruit and veg and our in-store bakery ready to serve fresh bread and delicious pastries and cakes.
“There will also be a plethora of new elements and ways to pay – all designed to make our customers’ shopping experience as enjoyable and convenient as possible.
“We’re all so excited to welcome the Paisley community to our new store and to show off all of the fantastic features.”
For the past four weeks, five youngsters have been helping get the store into shape.
They are part of the Marks and Start training and mentoring scheme, which gives unemployed young people the skills, experience and confidence they need to find a job.
One of the five, Aaron Cunningham, said: “My confidence has increased a lot in the time that I’ve been working at M&S Paisley.
“All of my colleagues have been so helpful and patient in teaching me the ropes.”