A new Aldi store has opened its doors to customers with Team GB track and field hero Anyika Onuora cutting the red ribbon.
The Liverpool Road store, in Tarleton, is the first Aldi to open in and around Preston and will be run by store manager Tony Breen, along with a team of 35 staff recruited from the local community.
Following the opening, on Thursday morning, Mr Breen said: “It’s been a wonderful morning here at the opening of Aldi Tarleton.
"It was lovely to welcome our new customers into store, and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks."
In celebration, Team GB bronze medallist Anyika Onuora gave away complimentary bags of fresh fruit and vegetables from Aldi’s famous Super 6 range to the first 30 customers in the queue.
Also in attendance was up-and-coming Taekwondo athlete, Adelaide Barnes.
She used the opening, on Thursday morning, as an opportunity to gain some sporting advice and inspiration from Olympic hero Anyika .
Adelaide is one of 20 promising young athletes who Aldi has pledged to support as part of its new partnership with SportsAid, which provides financial support to each athlete, as well as quarterly training programmes in a number of fields to nurture their abilities beyond sport, including top tips on healthy eating, performance nutrition and managing mental wellbeing, as well as social media and media training.
As Aldi has been fuelling Team GB with food since 2015 through monthly vouchers, Anyika Onuora then went on to deliver an inspirational virtual assembly for pupils at Tarleton Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School.
The supermarket’s initiative, Get Set to Eat Fresh has already inspired more than two million school children aged five to 14 to learn more about the benefits of cooking fresh, healthy food with their families.
In addition, Aldi Tarleton offered pupils at the primary school the opportunity to win a £20 gift voucher to spend at the new store, by tasking them with creating a poster to show what healthy eating means to them.
Anyika announced the winner during the assembly and the pupil was presented with their £20 voucher.
Mr Breen continued: "I’m also thrilled that we’ve been able to support Tarleton Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School through our partnership with Team GB.”
Anyika added: “I’ve had a fantastic time opening the new Aldi this morning. It was an honour to officially open the store and welcome customers inside for the first time.
“I am looking forward to speaking with the children at Tarleton Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School about the importance of eating healthily and how it can be fun to plan and prepare meals as a family.
"Hopefully I’ve also managed to inspire the pupils to keep active and try different sports.”
The new Aldi store offers large chillers and freezers dedicated to fresh, British meat products, a Food to Go section at the front of the store, and an exclusive section full of Health & Beauty products.
Tarleton customers can also take a walk down the Aisle of Aldi, where they will find legendary Specialbuys which are available every Thursday and Sunday.
During opening week, the store will be running its Baby and Toddler Event, including a Chicco Bedside Crib for £129.99, moses basket with rocking stand for £34.99 and a Fisher Price Play Gym for £19.99.
In a welcome boost to the regional economy, the store is looking for store assistants for the Tarleton premises, with applications, and more information on all of Aldi’s store positions, located on the supermarket giant's website.
Additionally, it is calling on local charities and food banks in Tarleton to register with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform that links businesses to charitable organisations in the local community.
Local charities that register will be able to collect surplus food and perishable products, such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, up to seven days a week.
Any charities in the area that would like to partner up with the new Aldi store should email aldi@neighbourly.com.
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