Budget supermarket Lidl opened its doors to the public this morning at Fairacres Retail Park in Abingdon.
Although there was not a huge queue of shoppers many customers left the brand-new store looking pleased.
The new Marcham Road shop boasts a delicious bakery section, wide aisles, and a customer toilet there is also 'ample parking' for cars and bicycles.
The supermarket has created about 40 new jobs for the area, and it forms part of Lidl's £1.45bn investment in its expansion across Britain in 2019 and 2020.
The supermarket’s fresh produce has even converted a Waitrose shopper.
Brandy Coote from Abingdon came to Lidl this morning for her food shop, and she was impressed by the shops ‘fresh produce’ and said it has ‘accessible’ wide aisles, which she added was good for the elderly.
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Ms Coote said: “It is nice that this is closer, we do not really have much on this side of Abingdon. I usually shop at Waitrose, but I think I might come here more.”
On the door welcoming customers and handing out small trolley key rings was security guard Valito Fernandes.
He said he has been at the shop entrance all day and will be there until close at 10pm.
Mr Fernandes said it has been a full day in the new supermarket and says the free Lidl key rings are putting a smile on the customers faces.
Inside the budget supermarket the produce was clearly and neatly laid out with ‘pick of the week’ food, a bakery and of course the ‘middle of Lidl’ aisle.
The middle aisle is full of deals, from cafetieres and garden furniture cushions to a crepe stove.
Happy customer Mark Timbs wrote on the Oxford Mail Facebook page and said: “Got some new wellies this morning there. Good deal. They are between the bacon and magic mops.”
Another customer, Santos Jesus, wrote on Facebook and said: “It's very good it's much better than Aldi. I like the custard cakes and much more thanks for Lidl new opportunity.”
Budget supermarket Lidl will be followed by Costa Coffee and The Gym.
A giant 23,800sq Homebase is also scheduled to open in the autumn.
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