News Co-op opens


village store A NEW Co-op store has opened in Harrietsham,


following a


£610,000 investment. The shop, located at Southfields


Way, Ashford Road, opened on Friday, October 19, providing 15 full and part-time jobs. It also comes along with an in-


store bakery, Costa Coffee ma- chine, cashmachine, self-scan tills and pay point. Ian Rowe, Co-op areamanager,


said: “We are delighted to have undertaken such a significant in- vestment in Harrietsham and are very proud to be part of this com- munity. “The Co-op is moving forward


with a clear purpose andmomen- tum, and our ambition is to en- sure the store is a local hub for people living in the area. “We want shoppers to know


that they can become a co-owner andmember of their Co-op. “Our members make a differ-


ence locally and simply by swip- ing their membership card when they shop with us, they are rais- ing much needed funding for or- ganisations who contribute to improving local life.”


downsmail.co.uk


M&S welcomed at A20 service station


HIGH street favourite Marks & Spencer’s Simply Food store was due to open in Harrietsham, writes Jade Schopman. The 24-hour service site has re-


placed the petrol station, shop and Subway on theA20,AshfordRoad. There will be eight filling posi-


tions on the main forecourt and two lanes ofHGV facilities. The store was due to open on


November 14, asDownsMailwent to press. The chain hopes to draw in local people and passing trade. Harrietsham parish councillor


EddiePowell said: “AlthoughHar- rietshamis a small village,we now have a number of big name retail- ers, including the Co-op and now M&S,with its Simply Food brand. “It gives people a choice as to


where to shop and an option that wasn’t there before. “TheWild Bean Café in the new


development was formerly a Sub- way,which I knowa lot of people made use of. Itwas very quick.


“The only concern is that the old


BP station sold fresh produce from local butchers S.W. Doughty in Doddington, which is an award- winning traditional butchers. “It was nice to see local busi-


nesses supporting each other, so it’s a shame that more than likely Marks and Spencer is going to sell its own products rather than local produce thatwas there before. BP spokesman Shannon Wise-


mansaid: “The shopis a larger ver- sion of our standardBPM&S offer,


which includes aWild Bean Café. “The shopincludes customer toi-


lets and baby change facilities.” M&S recently submitted plans


for a much larger store at Eclipse Park, at junction seven of theM20. The retailer stepped in with a


different offering when Waitrose dropped its plan tomove in after a reviewof economic factors. The M&S move will mean the


closure of the smaller of two shops in Week Street and may create more jobs.


12


Maidstone East December 2018


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