Aldi opening soon (From Stourbridge News)

Aldi opening soon

12:28pm Monday 4th February 2008 in Local By Bev Holder

LOW-COST supermarket Aldi is only weeks away from opening a brand new £3m store in Wollaston.

The German chain is set to open one of its new concept stores on the old Wollaston Garage site in Bridgnorth Road on Thursday March 13.

Planning permission for the new 4,147 square metre store and car park was granted - despite protests from a bunch of angry villagers who formed a campaign group Save Our Village fearing the supermarket would spoil the village's conservation area, take away trade from other specialist shops and cause traffic chaos.

However - Aldi bosses say they have addressed traffic and design issues - and for many other Wollaston residents, 400 of whom signed petitions backing company's bid to set up shop, the store can't open soon enough.

George Brown, Aldi area manager for Wollaston, said: "We are very excited about offering a wide selection of quality goods at great value and look forward to welcoming customers to the store, which will be one of Aldi's new concept stores - which are bigger, brighter and simpler to shop in."

He said a recruitment drive was already under way to fill the 15 new jobs created by the development - adding: "Aldi Wollaston will employ a high calibre of staff who are both well motivated and rewarded, to provide our customers with first-rate customer service."

He said measures would also be put in place to help keep queues to a minimum, including a bag packing facility away from the till and installation of "one of the most advanced scanning systems available".

The new supermarket will be open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 8pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday - and it will stock 936 of its own product lines including frozen products, household items, beauty products, wines and spirits - plus electronic goods, fresh fruit and vegetables and deli foods.