FANS of a bargain supermarket chain with over 1,000 shops have been left upset after a popular store is set to shut in just weeks.
Locals in Preston reacted to the sad news calling the decision to close the store “depressing” – but there is some positive news.
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The Aldi on Corporation Street, Preston is the latest store to announce its closing down after a spokesperson confirmed it will shut up shop in the spring of this year.
One local resident took to social media to say: “At this rate is there gonna be any shops open in town?
“When you walk round town all you see is empty shops, vape shops and phone case shops. It’s depressing and embarrassing considering we are meant to be a city.”
After announcing the closure a spokesperson for Aldi said: “We will share further updates with the local community in due course.”
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However, Preston is set to gain an even bigger Aldi as a new store on Port Way will open the night after the closure.
The exciting move will see the Trident Centre office building on Port Way torn down and demolished to make way for the supermarket as a brand-new shopping space, split into two separate units.
Plans for the new double super retail space was approved by the local council.
The Aldi will sit proudly on one side as a currently unnamed discount store will occupy the rest of the space.
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The new double unit will also have around 250 car parking spots outside Port Way and a second space set to be added off Channel Way.
Residents were pleased with this new addition after years of “chaos” on the roads around Corporation Street.
One said: “Good maybe it will reduce some of the traffic chaos on Corporation Street.”
The two shops are set to create around 100 new full-time jobs for people in Preston.
As existing staff at the old Corporation Street store will also be given the opportunity to transfer over to the new store and 18 additional jobs up for grabs.
Kelly Stokes, HR Director at Aldi, spoke about the new recruits their looking for saying: “We are looking for individuals around Preston with amazing people skills and drive to grow in a role to be a part of our successful team.
“Colleagues that thrive at Aldi have a can-do attitude, determination and buckets of ambition.
“At Aldi, people are our purpose and we recognise the crucial role they play in making our business successful. We’re looking forward to meeting lots of potential future candidates and accelerating the amazing growth we have achieved in the north.”
Earlier this week the supermarket giant – famous for its fascinating middle aisle bargains – announced it is looking to recruit 500 apprentices across the UK in 2024 to work at their branches across the UK.
Another supermarket giant with 2,800 branches is set to shut a store leaving shoppers at a huge loss.
The Tesco store in Canterbury town centre is set to close for more than a month leaving people fearing for their meal deals.
Several other big-name chains are also pulling down their shutters for the final time this month.
Lidl is closing down on its site in Thornaby next month as the bargain retailer confirmed the sites in Stockton-on-Tees will shut on February 29.
Jack Wills in Worcester announced it will be closing down for good on January 30 as fan favourite Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Supermarket chain Co-op is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Peacehaven, East Sussex, on January 20.
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High street fashion chain Peacocks is also closing a branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on January 25, and entertainment retailer HMV in Boston, Lincolnshire, will be gone for good on January 27.
And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito shut their doors.
