Shoppers flocked to the launch party which marked the opening of the new Glasshoughton ASDA store. The entertainment, which wowed the crowds before the grand opening at 10am, involved cheerleaders from Castleford’s Smawthorne Henry Moore Primary School launching 200 balloons into the air from the shop’s car park during the special ceremony. Entertainment also included a DJ, balloon modeller and juggler.
Twelve colleagues who have served customers at the store for a total of more than 300 years attended the ceremony – including the stores longest serving employee, Andrew Slatcher, who was voted by his colleagues to pass the key of the new store to the Manager, Russell Gamble. Andrew arrived in style stepping out of a white stretch limousine to loud applause and proceeded to officially open the doors to the Leeds Road supermarket.
Once the doors were opened the eagerly awaiting customers were allowed in to shop and sample local delicacies and locally-made pies, and the first 250 shoppers, some of whom had queued for over two hours, received a free “goody” bag.
Waystone’s ASDA project included both the design and construction of the new store as well as the future demolition of the old store, and the development has included a new access road and the construction of a section of the new Coalfields Link Road. Stuart McLoughlin, Managing Director of Waystone, commented that, “It is a source of pride to the Waystone staff that finally, after persevering with the proposal for a new Asda store for over 10 years, the project has now been realised through the co-operation of the Asda team and the Wakefield planning and highways departments”.
Michelle Bailey - Marketing Co-ordinator