NEWBRIDGE, 3 September: by Grace Halford. One of the country's leading supermarket groups, Tesco, opened its newest store in Ireland at Moorefield, Newbridge at the weekend with minister for finance Charlie McCreevy performing the official opening.
The store, which incorporates the latest in state of the art technology and architecture, cost approximately £8 million pounds. It now has a café, as well as an in-store bakery and a new houseware department. Additional facilities include customer toilets, baby changing facilities, 450 car parking spaces including parent and child spaces as well as disabled parking.
Minister McCreevy said the new store would create 100 new jobs in addition to the 100 people already employed by Tesco in the area and showed just how strong a commitment it had to the community.
Violet Keogh (right), the company's longest-serving employee in Newbridge, having been with Quinnsworth/Tesco for the last 27 years, said the new store was 'a wonderful improvement'.
The new store brought with it a new general manager, Brian Moran. Brian has been with Tesco for the last 16 years. He has many years of management experience behind him, having managed stores in Cavan, Dundalk and most recently Stillorgan. He joined the Newbridge branch three months ago to oversee the building programme and recruitment process.
"It is a wonderful day to see the store finally finished," he said, thanking all his employees for their help and patience in making the transition from the old store to the new one.
The store will hold a family day on Saturday to celebrate its opening and throughout the day will host a number of family competitions and games, including face painting and magic shows and all are welcome.
©2001gracehalford/knn