Business booming at new Littlehampton Waitrose

BUSINESS has been booming at Littlehampton’s newest supermarket, since the Waitrose store opened at Anchor Springs.

Shoppers braved heavy rain to queue outside the former Somerfield supermarket for the opening ceremony, performed by town mayor Alan Gammon and accompanied by the sounds of the TS Sussex Sea Cadets band.

Mr Gammon congratulated Waitrose on the multi-million pound transformation of the 15,400 sq ft store, completed in less than four weeks.

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He said: “Over the past few years we have seen great improvements in Littlehampton town centre trading. Empty shops have gradually been occupied, the Friday market has grown and now we have the hugely respected supermarket Waitrose opening its doors here.”

Waitrose is employing a total of 130 people at the store, who are known as “partners”, sharing in an annual bonus based on the company’s profits.

The total includes 83 new recruits out of 1,700 people who applied for the jobs, Somerfield staff who transferred to Waitrose and existing partners who have moved from other stores.

Manager Andrew Walker, who previously managed the chain’s Havant store, said the Littlehampton Waitrose filled a gap between the company’s supermarkets at Worthing and Chichester and, to a lesser extent, Storrington.

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He added: “From the people I have met, and from what I have seen of Littlehampton and the way we have developed our offer, to be more competitive, I think we could be very successful here.”

Three charities will benefit from Waitrose’s Community Matters scheme each month, receiving a share of £1,000 depending on the choices of customers “voting” with plastic tokens. The first recipients will be Jamie’s Wish, St Barnabas House hospice and the Queen Alexandra Hospital (Gifford House), Worthing.

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