Sainsbury’s new multi-million pound store opens in Prestwick

Jul 16 2010 by Yonnie McInnes, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Sainsbury’s new multi-million pound store opens in Prestwick

THE NEW multi-million Sainsbury store has opened well ahead of schedule.

General manager Marc Watson welcomed the first customers into the Prestwick supermarket on Wednesday morning.

Provost Winnie Sloan cut the ribbon which marked the end of years of planning and months of construction.

The store has taken on 245 workers – 59 of whom were previously unemployed.

Marc explained: “We are proud to say that 217 of those are new jobs created by Sainsbury’s and out of these 59 of our colleagues were previously unemployed.

“We have also employed 32 full-time students.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we have opened well ahead of schedule – it should have been September – but contractors Dawn group have done a fine job in completing the job so speedily.”

The store brings online shopping to the whole of Ayrshire, and has already been making deliveries throughout the area for the last three weeks.

There’s 45,000 sq ft of shop space, a petrol station, café, delicatessen, salad bar, in-store bakery, and even a make-your-own take-away pizza section.

Ayrshire Sands – the stillbirth and neonatal death charity – has become Sainsbury’s charity partner after nominations from the public.

The store has also recently donated 25 hampers, full of Taste The Difference products, to Ayrshire based charities and schools.

It is already supporting schools in the area, starting with Kingcase Primary School next door.

Together with Dawn Construction Sainsbury’s has built a football pitch, and the store will work closely with Glenburn Primary over the coming months.

They also plan to work closely with the Prestwick community supporting events such as the National Bowling Championships at Northfield this month.

Sainsbury’s has already made a significant contribution to Prestwick Oval by refurbishing some of the land and creating sports areas for children.