Marks and Spencer has opened a brand new Welsh store and says it's the first of its kind in Wales. The new Llandudno branch has a fresh-market-style food hall with modern and sustainable features including a 4ft-long cheese barge and a bigger bakery with fresh bread made daily.
Taking the place of the previous store, which was open for 80 years, the new Llandudno store is led by manager, Katie Whelan. She's joined by all 114 staff who transferred from the previous store plus 46 fresh new faces. Located in the Parc Llandudno Retail Park the new store has free parking facilities, longer opening hours than before, a bigger clothing and home section, and a vibrant and huge new food hall.
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It also stocks Welsh suppliers including local family-run business Popty, who supply bara brith, as well as Castle Dairies, Snowdonia Cheese, and Llaeth y Llan. In another new move M&S Llandudno uses scan and shop enabling customers to shop in-store with a handheld scanner using the Sparks app.
The new store also includes a new 119-seat digital café where customers can order from new touch screens and enjoy barista-made drinks and views of the beautiful Welsh hills.
Manager Katie said: "Having worked behind the scenes to bring the store to life, it has been truly wonderful to witness the excitement and energy the local community has shown towards the opening celebrations. We have certainly started as we mean to go on.”
The store is located at Parc Llandudno Retail Park, Conway Rd, LL30 1PX, and is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm and from 11am to 5pm on Sunday.