Family food firm converts former cinema into biggest premises yet
FAMILY business Heron Foods is set to open its biggest store yet.
The company is investing in the transformation of a 7,000 sq ft former cinema in Spring Bank, Hull.
The Priory Cinema is a 1930s building, that had stood vacant for a number of years before current owners Landmark Riverside acquired it in 2008.
Heron Foods secured the lease on the site. It is due to open in early April and will create 10 jobs.
Heron Foods has created more than 3,000 jobs since it was launched in 1979 in Hull, with 700 in the city area itself.
Heron has had two generations of the same family running it, after Michael, David and Andrew Heuck bought the business from their father Malcolm in 2003.
It has 240 discount food stores across the UK, and a purpose built distribution centre in Melton.
Heron estates director Jonathan Laverack said: “All shops want to get bigger – all businesses want to get bigger – and we have expanded by opening single shops and on occasions by buying chains.
“We had a shop in Spring Bank West a few years ago but it was too small for us and when we first looked at the cinema site in 2007 it was too big for us, but as our range has increased and we have become better at what we do we found that we were able to take this on.
“The site is well known locally. It was the Priority Cinema originally and then it was a Grandways supermarket – some of our current staff used to work there. We will be introducing some new product lines and we hope to be open in April.”
Paul White, agency director of Hull-based Garness Jones Chartered Surveyors, said: “This is a significant move for Heron Foods and for Hull, with the company opening their biggest store yet in the city where it all began more than 36 years ago.
“Heron’s investment completes the renovation of the building and provide a high quality store which will meet the needs of a wide community.”
Read next: Glazing firm doubles up after £1m investment
