Jobs safe with new Waitrose (From Barry And District News)

Jobs safe with new Waitrose

BARRY'S former Safeway store workers breathed a sigh of relief when the new Waitrose supermarket opened its doors for the first time.

They faced an agonising 18-month wait to find out if their jobs were safe.

But the staff, called partners by the John Lewis chain, are delighted to be working in the elite store.

Closed for just two weeks, the site was completely over-hauled as Waitrose.

Store manager Tim Wingrove is excited about the future. At the official opening on Thursday, August 19, he said: "It's hard to think that this time yesterday this shop was still a hard-hat area. It takes up to a year usually to prepare a store for opening, but the team has worked especially hard to make sure we were ready for today."

Helping him cut the ribbon was Vida Slack and Lynne Dixon. They were celebrating their birthdays - and the fact their futures are now secure.

Vida, 65, of Commercial Road, said: "I've seen many changes on this site since it opened as Tower Discount, then Presto, then Safeway. I have never minded change and I am looking forward to working for the John Lewis chain

"But this last year-and-a-half has been hard. It was difficult not knowing what was going to happen to Safeway, whether it would be bought out and closed."

Lynne, 49, of Dovedale Street agreed: "I'd been working for Safeway for five years and it wasn't nice not knowing what the future held. My husband Tony was very supportive, because it was worrying time."

But the doubts have now been put to one side.

Tim Wingrove added: "I've just moved to the area and I like what I've seen. My family will be following shortly and my four daughters Daisy, Lily, Primrose and Polyanthus, will enroll at a local school."