Sainsbury’s opens brand-new store in Ketley, Telford

Sainsbury’s has launched its newest store this week with the opening of Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Road Local in Telford, Shropshire.

 Now open from 7am to 11pm seven days a week, the new store has created new jobs for local people and supporting regeneration in the neighbourhood, whilst providing more convenience and shopping choice for residents. 

Customers will now have the opportunity to enjoy Sainsbury’s latest convenience range, from fresh fruit and veg, healthy snacks and food-to-go to sweet, savoury and frozen staples. 

They'll also be able to choose from a delicious selection of freshly baked breads and pastries daily, as well as picking up Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing products ordered online via the in-store Click and Collect service.

Conveniently based on Holyhead Road, the new store was built on the site of The White Lion pub. Sainsbury’s was originally due to lease the building from the owner of the former public house, but subsequently stepped in to purchase the site and build a new store following serious complications during the previous owner’s conversion. 

The new convenience store was sensitively designed in conjunction with the local planning authority, to reflect the look and feel of The White Lion and remain in keeping with the local area.

The colleagues that comprise the new store team will play an active role in the local community whilst also participating in Sainsbury’s national charitable schemes and programmes and initiatives. EG, through Sainsbury’s partnership with Neighbourly, the new Local store will work with local food donation partners including Telford Crisis Support to help ensure all surplus foods from the store will go to those who need it the most. 

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Local to our estate this week. We really pulled out all the stops to build the best store we could, working with the Council to agree on and incorporate various nods to the appearance of the original building. We’re delighted with the result and we think our customers will be too.” 

Adrian Harris, Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Road Local Store Manager, said: “It was a privilege to join members of my new store team to cut the ribbon and declare our new Sainsbury’s Local open for the community. We know our neighbours have been looking forward to our arrival and we were really pleased to be able to welcome them for the first time today.”  

(EDITOR: It's interesting to recall that the original building dated back to at least the 16th century, it bore a plaque dated 1661, so the building was at least 362 years old.

This is what the White Lion looked like before it was demolished, the image is attributed to Gordon Cragg / The White Lion, Ketley / CC BY-SA 2.0.)