Jobs boost as Morrisons opens in Telford

The new Morrisons store, part of the Lawley Village development, was opened by store manager Leighton Griffiths and Ian Billings, acting on behalf of Save The Children.

Morrisons worked in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and Telford College of Arts and Technology to ensure that 79 of the new jobs went to people who were previously unemployed.

They also ran a pre-employment course for people to get experience of working in a supermarket.

Mr Griffiths said: "The feedback I have had from customers as I have been walking around the store has been very encouraging.

"We are very much concentrating on the fresh market theme which runs through the shop."

Around 50 people were waiting outside the store when it opened, and the car park was almost full within 30 minutes of the official opening.

The new 'store of the future' is just one of 80 Morrisons stores around the country that currently use the fresh market as a focus.

New technology, including ice beds and 'misting' fresh fruit and vegetables, is aimed at making the produce as fresh as possible.

Mr Griffiths added: "We wanted to create an experience that was different from other supermarkets, offering customers a fantastic range of fresh products at great value and excellent customer service and I think we have done just that.

"The team has worked hard to train as specialists in areas such as wine, butchery and bakery and many products are created in-store each day."