Manager braced as doors open at new M&S store
SAM NUGENT is bracing himself – with good reason.
Because today, the manager of Marks & Spencer’s newest food hall is getting ready for one of the biggest days in his near decade-long career with the retailer.
As the manager of M&S’s new Fort William store, he will be at the forefront of the razzamatazz surrounding the official opening on the town’s North Road.
Over the summer and autumn, Fort William residents watched closely as the food hall took shape. There’s certainly not another M&S food hall, or store for that matter, with a more stunningly picturesque setting than this newest branch, lying as it does in the shadow of Ben Nevis. As with other branches, there’s a wide range of food, a Click & Collect’ service, an instore bakery and a café.
The new food hall will have the accolade of being the worldfamous company’s remotest on the UK mainland, but Sam is not daunted having been handed such a challenge by company bosses. He told the Lochaber Times the excitement and energy around the town is overwhelming.
Sam, who now lives in Corpach, said: ‘Everyone I have met since moving up in September has asked about when the new M&S will be open. Those questions end today and people from Fort William and across Lochaber will be able to start shopping in their own M&S.’
The food hall will be officially opened today at 10am by a secret special guest and Sam was not giving anything away about who that might be.
‘That will be a surprise for everyone and it will all be part of the excitement of opening day,’ said Sam, who started out nine years ago with the company as a temporary Christmas staff member. ‘This is the second store I will have managed, but my first store opening as a manger, so it is really exciting.’
‘It is going to be fantastic. Fort William will be the remotest foodhall in the M&S family and we’re sure it is going to prove to be something special.
‘Having a presence in Fort William has been on our radar for a long time and very much part of the M&S plan to offer its services to as wide a part of the UK as possible.
‘This will make a massive difference to all those who already like to shop with M&S and for those who have never experienced shopping with M&S in person. I can assure them the run-up to Christmas really is the right time to experience that. There will be nothing like it.’