Leamington’s new Morrisons ‘rammed’ with crowds on opening day

A ribbon was cut at 9am by Save the Children workers at the Morrisons store in Old Warwick Road - and since then, the 360-strong staff team at the supermarket have been busy serving eager crowds during the week.

Heavy traffic has caused problems for drivers on the roads surrounding the store, but for the branch’s manager Mike Toth, the opening has been a great success.

He said: “We are rammed with people. The customer response has been superb.”

Mr Toth, who left his post as manager at the Coventry Morrisons to take on the role in Leamington, said the supermarket brand is aiming to place a store within 15 minutes’ drive of every person in the UK, adding: “Leamington fits our criteria because there are people who would find our market streets appealing here.

“When you come in the store, you will see our own butchers, bakers and fishmongers.

“We produce more lines from scratch in store than any other food retailer in the UK.”

The new store also has a bigger ‘food to go’ section - which includes salads, wraps, sandwiches and hot pizzas and pies - than other Morrisons branches and it is the first one to launch the supermarket’s new Nutmeg range of children’s clothing.

The opening has acutely increased the competition for households’ weekly shops in the area, with large branches of Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Lidl a short drive away. Mr Toth said: “We thrive on competition. Customers are intelligent enough to make their own choices. They will shop where they feel is best for them.”

The branch includes a cafe and plans to build a petrol station and car wash alongside have been approved.