Video and pictures: BHS food store opens in Telford

The store in Telford Town Centre is one of of only 19 BHS branches to sell food - part of a plan by bosses to grab a share of a lucrative market captured by rivals Marks & Spencer.

In fact, other than a section of M&S, Telford Town Centre has been without a dedicated food store since the departure of Asda in February to a new purpose-built megastore opposite the shopping mall.

And yesterday customers welcomed BHS's decision to start selling food, with many saying it saved them a long walk with their shopping.

"I think this is great," said Annie Archer, 68, of Kynnersley. "When Asda closed down there was only Marks & Spencer in the shopping centre that sold food.

"If I needed to get food it meant I had to carry it around with me while I was shopping because I get picked up from the Red Oak car park.

"Now I can just exit through BHS, so it means I can do my food shopping at the end of my shopping trip.

"It also has a great amount of variety here, which is brilliant. I am really pleased this food section has been opened."

Heather Evans, 72, of Ketley Bank was shopping with Mrs Archer.

She said: "Like Annie, I think it is great this has opened because it means we haven't got to carry our shopping around with us.

"We can do it at the end of our shopping trip and then exit through the store when we get picked up."

The first 100 customers yesterday were treated to free box of Cadbury's Heroes and free hot drink in the shop's cafe, while everyone else had to make do with cake and a glass of buck's fizz.

BHS worker Janet Beech, who has been at the store for 21 years, said it was a great honour to officially open the food outlet by cutting the ribbon at 10am.

Claire O'Neill, store manager said: "We have some good feedback from customers, with a lot of them saying it's nice to have another food store in the centre."

Chris Jones, centre director at Telford Shopping Centre, said: "We are thrilled that BHS has chosen the shopping centre store as one of just 19 locations across the country in which to roll out its new food store concept.

"This part of the centre has also seen significant investment from retailers over the last 18 months – with a number of refits and refurbishments.

"With the BHS food store now opening too, we can provide our shoppers with even more convenience.

"We saw lots of shopper interest in the build up to the opening of new BHS food store and they were certainly eager to browse and shop as soon as it opened."