An Asda store set to close at the end of the month will be replaced by a Waitrose. The Hale Barnes store which spans 11,000sq ft will close just two years after opening. July 31 has been signposted as the last day of trading for the Asda supermarket, which was confirmed to be closing back in May.
An exact opening date for the Waitrose store is yet to be confirmed but it is expected to come in Autumn this year. An Asda spokesperson says the closure comes after regular assessments were carried out of their portfolio, with nearby stores recommended to those wanting to continue shopping with the supermarket chain.
They told The Sun: "Like all major supermarkets, we regularly review our store estate to ensure it continues to meet customer needs and remains commercially sustainable.
"We’d like to thank our colleagues and the local community at our Hale Barns store and reassure customers they can continue to access Asda’s great value and products at our nearby Altrincham and Wythenshawe superstores, or online at Asda.com."
Asda staff at the Hale Barnes location will transfer across to Waitrose Partners, with the opening expected to bring new roles. Staff will receive fresh training ahead of the store opening. David Donovan, Waitrose Regional Manager, had spoken of the development with Altrincham Today.
He told the outlet: “Opening in Hale Barns is an exciting opportunity for Waitrose and we’ll offer the very best products and customer service for food lovers in the area.
“As part of this, we’re building a brilliant team and we look forward to welcoming them and our customers in the coming months. We’ll be sharing more details on our plans soon.”
Alun Jones, Waitrose’s Head of Physical Estate, added: "Growing our presence in the north is important to us and the Hale Barns store is a significant next step in our plan. Alongside our stores in Altrincham and Wilmslow, Hale Barns is a great fit for our brand.”
Asda and Waitrose were contacted for comment.
