Supermarket chain Morrisons has opened its new store in Bargoed – creating 250 new jobs.
The store is part of a new £24 million retail development which has a further seven units for lease.
Victoria Button, President of the Bargoed Chamber of Trade, cut the ribbon to declare the store open on December 2.
Councillor Harry Andrews, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “I am thrilled that the council was able to play a part in the official opening of the Morrisons store.
“All of the regeneration works will undoubtedly breathe new life into Bargoed and it marks the dawn of a new era for the town centre.
“To see the former mining community well on its way to becoming the thriving town it once was, is truly fantastic.”
The new Morrisons store is a Craft Skills Academy with staff trained in a range of traditional skills such as butchery, fishmongery, bakery and flower arranging.
As part of the Craft Skills Academy, the new Morrisons team in Bargoed have undergone “intensive” training on product knowledge so that they can advise customers and suggest cooking tips, food combinations and matching wines.
The new store has appointed staff member Alison Matuszczyk as its Community Champion to help support and coordinate initiatives to help the local community.
David Beard, Bargoed Morrisons Store General Manager, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming shoppers into the store and to making a positive difference to the town through our work in the community.”
Three new staff members at Morrisons secured their jobs with the help of a new Communities First project called ‘Retail that Works’.
The scheme uses self-defence coaching to help adults gain the confidence to work in customer service jobs.
The approach was developed by the team at the White Rose Information Resource Centre, New Tredegar so local people could compete for new jobs coming to the area – such as Morrisons.
Martial arts instructor Anthony Groves who runs the New Tredegar project said: “The self-defence classes help change the mind-set of individuals who are stuck in a rut and give them the confidence to have a go at new things.
“The exercises are tailored to the participant’s level and ability so they can achieve them and move to the next level.”
I was there today with my friend Phil, we had a good look around and really enjoyed.
In the nicest possible way, Andrew. I'm slightly worried if you get your kicks and enjoyment looking around a supermarket. It's bad enough visiting one to do a weekly shop up so the idea of choosing to go there bamboozles me.
I agree with Cheryl, it is ONLY a womans job to visit supermarkets and do the shopping, not Andrews and Phils, after all she is the one, being a female, who has to, cook it, wash up with it, clean the house with it, plug it in, unplug it, wash clothes with it, etc etc, why on earth would a simple `man` want to aquiant himself with such places????, (SIC).
IAMAMAZED, What on Earth are you on about?
It was great to see that the Morrisons store in Bargoed has now opened to shoppers.
The former Plaid administration made the regeneration of Bargoed one of its key objectives between 2008 and 2012, which included reaching agreement with a developer and agreeing a deal with an anchor tenant.
Much has been achieved and the opening of the supermarket gives the town another boost. As an administration we were also delighted to support the development of a multiplex cinema as the second phase for the scheme, something we are looking forward to opening in the future.
Plaid councillors are pleased to have a played a role in the regeneration of Bargoed.