MORRISONS OPENING CREATES 185 NEW JOBS IN WATFORD

Morrisons’ new store in Watford opened yesterday creating 185 new jobs, 71 of those employed were previously unemployed. At 9am, there were more than 500 people queuing to get into the store after the official opening. The new Morrisons store, which was built on the old Royal Mail depot, boasts traditional facilities such as a butchery, fishmonger, bakery and florist. The store’s layout is designed to bring the Morrisons difference to life for customers who will be able to see bakers kneading dough at the front of the bakery and butchers making sausages fresh on the counter. The store also offers a ‘fresh market’, which will stock everything from carrots and tinkerbell peppers to yellow courgettes. The store also features a continental style deli counter, 140 cuts of meat in the butchery and an unrivalled selection of more than 80 cheeses from the UK and around the world. At the bakery there will be up to 48 varieties of bread baked fresh from scratch throughout the day by Morrisons bakers. The Morrisons team in Watford have undergone intensive training on product knowledge so that they can advise customers and suggest cooking tips, food combinations and matching wines. Watford MP Richard Harrington and Elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill attended the opening event and greeted the first shoppers. Mr Harrington said: “It’s been an honour to open the new Watford Morrisons today, and even better to hear they’ve been employing people from our local community – who I am sure will make it a first class place to shop. This new store is just the beginning for West Watford, and is testament to the kind of investment we can expect as a result of Croxley Rail Link.” Store general manager Henri Henriques said: “We wanted to create an experience that was different from other supermarkets, offering customers a fantastic range of fresh products at great value and excellent customer service. “We’re delighted that, as a result of this new store opening, we have helped create new jobs in the local area, and are now looking forward to welcoming new shoppers into our Watford store.”