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UK’s oldest supermarket worker from Manchester celebrates 90th birthday

He's still going strong.

Emily Sergeant - 14th May 2024

One of the oldest supermarket workers in the UK has just celebrated his 90th birthday, and he’s not letting his age stop him.

Ron Ellis, who works as a Customer Service Host at Asda Trafford Park here in Manchester, is not only Asda’s oldest colleague, but at the grand old age of 90, he is now considered to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, supermarket worker in the whole of the UK.

After working as an estimator for a steelworks company for many years, Ron started out his Asda journey as a store ‘Greeter’, before moving onto the checkouts and self scan areas.

And now, despite his age, he’s loves working as a Customer Service Host four days a week, and has “no plans to retire”.

Ron – who is a widower, and has two sons and two grandchildren – has just celebrated his big birthday (24 April), and to mark the very special occasion, he was surprised by his fellow colleagues who showered him with presents, chocolates, and a card, and also made sure to decorate the checkouts area with balloons.

Of course, no big birthday celebration is complete without a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, and Ron’s chorus was sung by both his colleagues and many of the store’s customers – who, according to Asda, “just love him”.

“I love my job and I’ve no plans to retire,” Ron commented.

“I’m still going strong and I love coming to work. My colleagues here are brilliant, and we get on so well. When it was my birthday, they were so kind. A lot of people don’t know how old I am, so it came as a surprise, and that day will remain firmly in my memory for the rest of my days.”

Ron also admitted that one of his favourite parts about coming to work is “having a chat with the customers”.

The UK’s oldest supermarket worker from Manchester has just celebrated his 90th birthday / Credit: ASDA

He continued: “We talk about all sorts, including football. I’m a big Man City fan, while many of the customers and colleagues here support United, but it’s all good humoured though as we’re a very friendly store”.

Catharine Arnold, who works as one of Asda Trafford Park’s Community Champions, called working with Ron a “real privilege”.

“He’s amazing and always has a smile on his face,” she added.

“I hope I’m like that when I’m that age. He’s so very well known by customers and colleagues, they all love him.”

Featured Image – ASDA