A NEW supermarket chain that launched in the UK two months ago and prides itself on offering locally-sourced food is set to open a store in Ramsey.As part of expansion plans, Haldanes has acquired eight Co-op/Somerfield stores, to add to the company's existing portfolio of 18 UK outlets.
A NEW supermarket chain that launched in the UK two months ago and prides itself on offering locally-sourced food is set to open a store in Ramsey.
As part of expansion plans, Haldanes has acquired eight Co-op/Somerfield stores to add to the company's existing portfolio of 18 UK outlets.
One of the newly-acquired stores is the Somerfield in Great Whyte, Ramsey, which is set to open as a Haldanes between March 17 and April 20.
In a statement on the Lincolnshire-based firm's website, Haldanes chairman Arthur Harris said all existing jobs would be guaranteed.
The acquisitions came about after the Co-operative Group agreed with the Office of Fair Trading to offload 133 outlets, in centres where it already had stores, following its takeover of Somerfield.
Haldanes began trading at Prestonpans, near Edinburgh, in November with its first store in England set to open at Tattershall, Lincs, on January 26.
Other acquisitions are in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Dovercourt in Essex, Carterton in Oxfordshire, Pwllheli, North Wales, Royton, near Oldham in Lancashire, Wigton in Cumbria and Biddulph, Staffordshire.
Haldanes is the first mid-size supermarket chain to open in Britain for nearly 30 years.
Mr Harris said: "Other supermarket groups have boasted a reputation for good quality products, but we will go further than that. We'll be dedicating a higher percentage to freshly grown, local products. That policy with also extend to using local bakers and butchers as suppliers."
Haldanes will source more than a third of its food and drink from local producers and suppliers at each of its stores.
Mr Harris added: "We think we have injected excitement and optimism into the retail trade nationally by our launch when all the news in recent months has been downbeat.
"People have been asking us why we are taking what they see as such a bold move in the face of a recession. My answer is that this opportunity presented itself to us to acquire some excellent stores with some fantastic staff."
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