Store Group creating 40 jobs by expanding at two locations

Plans for the Sale Foodhall

A Manchester-based independent retailer is creating 40 jobs with its latest two openings.

The team behind General Store and Stretford Foodhall have today announced they will be opening two new Foodhalls in Sale and Northwich this year.

The Foodhall concept, home to an ever-changing roster of independent street food vendors, has already proved hugely popular in Stretford and is now being rolled out in the two suburban towns in Manchester and Cheshire.

The new expanded venue in Sale will create 10 jobs in the town centre, in addition to the 10 already employed at the existing store, while the new Northwich Foodhall will create around 30 local jobs.

Sale Foodhall will open this summer, with a 150-cover dining and drinking space, plus an outdoor terrace. The new Foodhall will replace the ‘Groceries and Beer’ unit already operated by the Store Group, and will be relocated around the corner at Stanley Square Shopping Mall to create a bigger 5,500 sq ft food, drink and retail destination.

Northwich Foodhall will follow in the autumn, launching in a two-storey unit in the town centre, formerly Baron’s Quay Social. The 9,000 sq ft unit also features a rooftop terrace where customers will be able to dine outside when the weather permits, with space for additional traders .

Both of the colourful new units will boast spaces for rotating indie food vendors, bars serving local craft beers, wine and spirit, a coffee shop with bakery unit, plus General Store’s trademark ‘cornershop’ retail space. The flexible spaces will promote a variety of uses for the local community, from pop-up retail spaces, to informal classes.

The grocery store within each venue will offer the same innovative neighbourhood retail concept the brand has become famous for. As well as championing local makers from food and drink to homeware, the shop will be a destination for artisan alcohol as well as local fresh baked goods and zero waste, household essential refill stations.

Store Group founder, Mital Morar, said: “This is a really exciting moment for us as we announce our second and third Foodhalls. It’s been a long time coming as, like everyone, we’ve battled against COVID over the last year, so we’re hugely excited that the plan is now taking shape.

“We’ve made Sale our home over the last 18 months, and as we expand and put down even stronger roots in the town we look forward to celebrating an exciting new chapter with the community.”

He added: “Northwich is also a really exciting location for us, taking the step out of Manchester for the first time is a big deal for our brand and we are looking forward to the challenge. The location is really important to us – we want to be able to create our own community in Northwich.

“People challenged us when we chose Stretford for our first Foodhall, but it’s turned out to be incredible for both our brand and the locals. Our venues aren’t just somewhere to grab food and drink, they are community spaces designed to engage those living and working around it. We want to reignite our town centres, building spaces that champion local traders and make everyone feel welcome.”

The Store Group has just launched its newest General Store in MediaCityUK, and has since announced new retail locations at Deansgate Square and Kampus in Manchester city centre, bringing the grand total to five new launches for the group this year, with more exciting plans to come.

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