Sainsbury’s invests in major upgrade to Birmingham supermarket

SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s is to extend one of its principal stores in Birmingham.

Work on the refurbishment of the group’s Northfield store has started and is due for completion in November. The store will remain open during the work.

The four-month work programme, being carried out by Base Build, will see an expanded and improved sales area with the café moved up to a new mezzanine level above its current location. This investment will also pave the way for an enlarged product offering.
 
Much of the internal work will be done during the night to minimise disruption, however the existing store café will close while the work is completed.

Selfridges named world’s best department store

SELFRIDGES, which has announced a £20m upgrade to its iconic Birmingham store, has been named as the Best Department Store in the World for an unprecedented third consecutive time.

The award, bestowed by the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores, was announced at the Global Department Store Summit in Singapore. Selfridges will retain the honour until 2016.

Judges said the company’s Oxford Street flagship and its three sister stores – which includes Birmingham – continued to set the pace for retail in the 21st century, with an on-going mission to create the greatest shops on earth.

Receiving the award, Paul Kelly, managing director, Selfridges Group, said: “This award is international recognition of the global reach of our brand.

“Selfridges has gone from strength to strength worldwide, and this prestigious retail award recognises the status of our brand as a successful retail innovator.” 

Modern Casuals arrives in Brum

RETRO sportswear, clothing and online fashion outlet 80s Casual Classics is to open a new store – Modern Casuals – at the Custard Factory in Birmingham this month.

The new Birmingham store coincides with the release of the new football spoof film, The Hooligan Factory, for which 80s Casual Classics has provided clothing.

80s Casual Classics established itself as a clothing website focusing on the era of the Casuals from the early to mid-1980s. Casuals dressed in sportswear and clothing attire brands such as Fila, Sergio Tacchini, Ellesse, Diadora, Farah, Lois and Adidas.

Brand founder and owner Neil Primett said: “With the increasing demand on the website our cult-like following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and continuing film work, we have seen the need to establish stores in our key areas.”
 

Walsall market consultation extended 

ADDITIONAL time is being granted for regeneration officers to determine the design and implementation of Walsall new-look town centre market.

The move follows a positive response from a public consultation into the scheme.

Walsall Council launched the consultation earlier this year to find a permanent home for the market, which is being displaced due to work taking place on the redevelopment of the town centre.

As a result of the consultation, overwhelming support has been given to plans to site the market stalls on The Bridge.

The local authority said more than 400 visitors had viewed the plans during an exhibition at the town’s art gallery. In addition, more than 80 people responded to the consultation, with the majority rating the market’s proposals as either ‘good’ or ‘very good’.