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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stephen Houston

Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pig help launch new Scots Marks & Spencer

Gimmicks such as a talking Colin the Caterpillar cake and Percy Pig sweetie welcomed shoppers to the new Marks & Spencer Foodhall in Paisley today.

The Renfrew Road Retail Park store was formally opened at 9am by M&S veteran Elaine Gibson.

It is one of the first new-look Marks stores in Scotland and features a pick your own eggs stall and a giant cheese display.

Management and shop floor staff shifted over after the traditional store on Paisley High Street was abandoned on Tuesday after 89 years.

They are keen to draw a line under the bail-out from the town centre, ditching clothes and instead concentrating on food.

Ready to roll - manager Kirk Russell, centre, with some of his team (RODDY SCOTT)

The new shop spans 12,600 square feet and includes a bakery and a frozen food area twice the size of the High Street premises.

Eighty staff are employed, including manager Kirk Russell who has transferred from the High Street.

Opening lures include gifts of free food and one shopper will get free shopping for the next seven days.

Confidence booster - trainee Aaron Cunningham (RODDY SCOTT)

Kirk said: “The recipient will be chosen at random and whatever is in their trolley will be complimentary.

“Our Paisley customers will find our fresh produce aisles brimming with flavorful fruit and veg and our in-store bakery ready to serve fresh bread and delicious pastries and cakes throughout the day.

“There will also be a plethora of new elements and ways to pay – all designed to make our customers’ shopping experience as enjoyable and convenient as possible.”

“We’re all so excited to welcome the Paisley community to our new store and to show off all of the fantastic features.”

The new look awaiting shoppers (RODDY SCOTT)

For the past four weeks five unemployed youngsters have been helping get the store into shape.

They are part of the Marks and Start training and mentoring scheme, which gives unemployed young people the skills, experience and confidence they need to find a job.

One of the five, Aaron Cunningham, said: “My confidence has increased a lot in the time that I’ve been working at M&S Paisley, all of my colleagues have been so helpful and patient in teaching me the ropes.”

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