Asda’s new store on Holme Well Road in Middleton is set to open on Monday morning (19 May 2014). Hilary Benn MP will be cutting the ribbon at 10am opening a store offering food, clothes, café and petrol station.
More than 300 jobs have been created by the development with most secured by people living in the LS10 postcode. Leeds City Council’s employment service worked closely with Asda and it was reported to an Area Committee meeting in March that 68% of appointments were to local people.
Asda are promising fresh and local produce as well as a fresh pizza counter and bakery section in the 25,000 square foot Food Hall. Their latest George clothes ranges will be available in a 6,000 square foot clothing section and they promise low fuel prices in the petrol station.
Mark Buck, general store manager at Asda Middleton, said:
“We’re really proud to be opening our new store in Middleton, creating more than 300 jobs and playing our part in the community. The number of job applications we have received so far is fantastic and we are still welcoming applications.
“We are excited to get the doors open next week and we are looking forward to meeting people from the local community. We have a team of colleagues who are willing to provide world class service to our customers; we hope to offer them a convenient and easy shop!”
Mark is already planning to drive awareness of the store’s Community Life Scheme through supporting local charities and organisations alongside Julie Nolan, the store’s Community Life Champion. One of Julie’s main challenges will be to run the Chosen by You, Given by Us initiative where three local organisations will be voted for by customers to receive support from the new Asda store.
The development of the store has been going on since before South Leeds Life started publishing in November 2010. Asda reported delays in assembling the land, but finally started work on site last August. A new access road for the Council’s Household Waste Site has been built around the new store’s car park.
Really glad this store has come to Middleton. I find Aldi stuff very inferior, I did try to like Aldi as it is so handy, but sorry, not for me.
I’m quite impressed by ALDI’s offering. Either way, it’s great to see so much confidence in Middleton’s economy over the coming years. Two new stores, new private housing, improved connectivity and local infrastructure e.g. NGT. Middleton (and South Leeds/Bank) really seems to be an area ‘on the up’.