Wellington’s former Woolworths store has been bought by a frozen food company bringing a jobs boost to the town.
After weeks of speculation it has been confirmed that a new supermarket will be setting up shop on New Street.
Heron Frozen Foods, a family-owned business based in Hull, will offer a variety of frozen food as well as chilled and dry groceries. They will also provide special offers to shoppers.
Officials from the company are remaining tight-lipped over the opening date of the shop but say there will be a ‘number of jobs’ available.
Mark Pritchard, Wrekin MP, said: “I am glad a new tenant has been found so quickly. This is good news for jobs and ensuring Wellington as a whole keeps trading.”
There are already around 100 stores in the country and the company is said to have bought 18 former Woolworths outlets in February.
Dave Riley, chairman of the town’s Chamber of Commerce, said: “The chamber warmly welcomes the arrival of Heron Frozen Foods to Wellington. For a large, successful multi-national company like this, to select Wellington as a preferred location, is a huge vote of confidence in the town’s future.
“It also sends a positive message to other companies of all sizes, that Wellington offers a serious opportunity for business success, particularly with Telford & Wrekin Council’s multi million pound development programme set to start later this year. Plus other investment initiatives, such of those by the Market Company, the street and shop front improvement works and the proactive work being carried out by Wellington Town Council and Wellington Chamber of Commerce, all created to help and encourage new businesses to the town.”
Woolworths PLC went into administration in November last year. The chain was a fixture on the High Street for the last 99 years and its closure resulted in around 27,000 job losses across the country.
Janet Thompson, a spokesperson for Heron, said: “We have acquired a property in Wellington.
“There will be a number of jobs when the store opens.”
Wellington councillor Gary Davies, said: “We welcome Heron and it goes to show there is still a lot of interest in Wellington.”
