Aldi and Waitrose Working Against the Clock to Ensure On Time Openings

Published on: 2 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 2 Nov, 2015

Waitrose and Aldi are both working hard to make sure that their stores are ready to be opened at 8am on Thursday morning (November 5th).

Guildford’s Mayor, Cllr Nikki Nelson-Smith, is to open the Aldi store on London Road, Burpham accompanied by children from a local school who won a competition to design a Bonfire Night themed poster.

The opening of the Guildford store has created 50 jobs within the local community but not all the posts have been filled. Aldi is still looking for two assistant store managers and two deputy store managers, as well as store and stock assistants.

A company spokesperson said that the unfilled posts would not delay the opening and other nearby branches would be helping to ensure adequate staff coverage.

Aldi’s Guildford store is 1,380 square metres and will be served by 77 car parking spaces.  It will have around 1,450 product lines including locally sourced produce.

Concerns remain among some local residents about compliance with planning conditions. Aldi are currently appealing against a restriction that allows only one HGV delivery per day. When asked how the store will manage to maintain stock levels with the restriction in place a spokesperson said: “No comment.”

The HGV unloading bay at Aldi Burpham. At the moment the store only has permission for one delivery per day.

The new Aldi store manager, Matt Jones, said: “We expect to see plenty of shoppers on Thursday take advantage of our opening week offers, in addition to our range of products at everyday low prices.”

A sneak look through the door into the shops interior shows boxes piled up with goods ready to be stacked on the shelves.

Aldi is now reported to be Britain’s sixth largest supermarket with a record market share of 5.3%  and it remains the UK’s fastest growing retailer.

At the Waitrose site observers have noticed intense activity, some almost round the clock, on last minute preparations prior to their opening.

The new store will also open its doors at 8am on Thursday and the event will be attended by the deputy mayor, Cllr Gordon Jackson, although he has not been named as the person carrying out the official ribbon cutting.

The interior of the new Waitrose. Some shelves already stocked, ready to go.

It is understood that contrary to some reports free parking for customers will not be offered. The charge will be £2.00 for and hour and a half, only refundable to customers spending £20 or more.

This morning (November 2nd) landscape gardeners could be seen planting up the car park borders.

Waitrose’s wine section in the new store on York Road.

James Armstrong, a Waitrose spokesperson said: “The team are working hard to get the store ready to to welcome our new customers and everything is on track for Thursday.

“The final week is always a busy one as everything comes together, but the majority of work continues to take place throughout the day with the finishing touches being carried out inside during the evening.”

This section is waiting to be filled with fresh produce.

Critics of the siting of a supermarket in York Road have said that vehicles entering and leaving the supermarket’s 200 space car park will cause further congestion in York Road. The installation of new traffic lights at the York Road/Stoke Road cross roads has still to be completed.

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