Asda open to customers after closure of Booths in Hale Barns

The high-end supermarket shut down around two months ago after almost a decade in business on Hale Road.

Asda took over the site, as well as all the staff, and as of today (May 28) its store is officially open after an investment of more than one million pounds into the site.

There are more than 8,000 products on sale from fresh food to frozen food as well as from a range of food-to-go counters and a first-of-its-type Extra Special deli.

Feroz Patel, Asda's Vice President for Retail Central, said: "The opening of our Hale Barns store is another example of our investment to bring Asda's uncompromising value to more communities in the UK.

"Customers shopping at Hale Barns can expect a range of high-quality products and services, including a refurbished café and a premium deli, offering some of our highest quality products. We look forward to supporting the community through our community initiatives for years to come."

The arrival of Asda instead of Booths received a mixed response after it was announced at the start of this year and, in acknowledgement, the supermarket appointed a tongue-in-cheek "Voice of Reassurance".

Comedian Clara Batten was on the tannoy for the official opening to tell shoppers they were in "the safest of hands".

Ms Batten said: "We're British – we don't always love change.

"But Hale Barns residents are in the safest of hands with Asda."

The supermarket is to support the Trussell Trust food bank and other causes in the community through its Asda Foundation. It says its staff are among the highest-paid in the sector with an increase in the standard salary to £12.04 per hour on the horizon for July 1.

The supermarket's opening times are between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am and 4pm on Sundays.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.