Shopping

Sneak peak inside as Stockport’s brand-new M&S Food Hall finally opens its doors

The retailer is back in the heart of the Greater Manchester once again.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 15th June 2023

Stockport’s brand-new M&S Food Hall has finally opened its doors, and some new images have been released so shoppers can have a sneak peak inside.

It’s been a long time coming – but after it was announced earlier this year that the Greater Manchester town would see the return of M&S after the retailer notably-closed its large department store inside the Merseyway Shopping Centre back in 2021, Stockport‘s brand-new M&S Food Hall opened its doors for the first time yesterday.

Staff were joined by the retailer’s iconic mascot Percy Pig to do the honours of cutting the ribbon, and welcoming the over 300 dedicated local customers who’d started queuing from 7am to get the first look inside the store. 

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She is the moment #mandsfood #fyp #stockport #mandstok

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The new 16,000 sq ft “market-style” Food Hall is located on Stockport Retail Park.

Inside the new store, shoppers will find fresh produce displays “brimming with great quality”, a show-stopping bakery with fresh bread, pastries, and sweet treats that are all baked daily, and impressive array of fine cheeses from across Europe at a dedicated cheese counter.

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There’s also an M&S Wine Shop inside the store – with an award-winning selection of drinks to match and sommeliers on hand to tell you more.

Stockport’s brand-new M&S Food Hall has finally opened its doors / Credit: Supplied

The reason there were hundreds of shoppers queued up outside so early in the morning yesterday was because the first 200 people to step foot inside the new store were handed special ‘golden tickets’, with every ticket guaranteeing a win, whether the win be a free bag of Percy Pigs, freshly baked cookies, or something even bigger.

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And to mark the occasion of the new opening, one lucky customer even won a £200 M&S voucher

“We are thrilled to open our brand-new Food Hall in Stockport,” Store Manager Anna Priest said at the grand opening yesterday.

It’s among the first of 20 new M&S stores that are due to open across the UK in 2023 / Credit: Supplied

“The last few weeks have been spent putting the finishing touches to our new store and I’m exceptionally proud of my amazing team who have all worked so hard to make sure everything is ready for our big opening day.

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“The store is an exciting investment in the future of M&S in Stockport, and I can’t wait for our customers to explore all the new features that the store has to offer.”

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The M&S Stockport Food Hall is among the first of 20 new M&S stores that are due to open across the country in 2023.

Major new stores are set to open inside the Trafford Centre and at Liverpool ONE later this year.

Featured Image – Supplied

Shopping

Tesco is trialling giving away expired food to shoppers for FREE at the end of the day

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Tesco reduced

Tesco has begun trialling giving away food that’s close to expiring away to shoppers for free at the end of the day.

You’ve heard of reduced-price food, but now Tesco is taking things one step further.

Food waste continues to be a growing problem, with the latest Government statistics revealing that the UK throws away approximately 9.52 million tonnes of food every year, which is why Tesco has decided to begin a trail at selected Express stores nationwide where it gives away some already-discounted ‘yellow sticker’ items for free after 9:30pm, reports The Telegraph.

Tesco is one of the UK’s major supermarket chains with a partnership to send surplus food to food poverty charities and foodbanks.

Although the chain is already donating its expired food, bosses say they are taking this next step to try to meet its goal to halve food waste by the end of this year.

Tesco reduced
Tesco is trialling giving away expired food for free to shoppers at the end of the day / Credit: The Manc Group

During this new trial – which is currently underway at selected stores across the UK – the company said the expiring food would be offered to charities and shop workers first, before customers could take it home for free.

Usually the items would be marketed at a cut-off of a 90% reduction, but under the new system – which is the first of its kind in the UK – food will be free of charge.

“We are constantly looking for innovative new ways to reduce food waste,” a Tesco spokesperson commented on the trail.

“In all our stores we offer unsold surplus food to charities and community groups, donating millions of meals each month.

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“This trial, in a small number of our Express stores, will allow customers to take any remaining yellow stickered items for free at the end of the day, after they have first been offered to charities and colleagues.”

Featured Image – The Manc Group

Shopping

You’ll soon be able to get your own at-home Reformer Pilates machine from Aldi’s middle aisle

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The legendary Aldi middle aisle strikes again.

There’s no denying that Pilates is one of the most popular workouts of the moment, especially the Reformer discipline, which is even being hailed as the ultimate workout for 2025, with social media currently flooded with influencers taking up the practice and new Reformer Pilates studios popping up left, right, and centre across Greater Manchester and the UK.

If you’re unfamiliar with what Reformer Pilates is, it’s a low-impact form of Pilates exercise performed on a specialised Reformer machine – which adds resistance to exercises, making it suitable for various different fitness levels – and it focuses on strength, flexibility, core stability, and overall body awareness.

But while popular, there’s also no denying that it’s expensive.

Aldi is launching a collection of Pilates products in the middle aisle next weekend / Credit: Aldi

Though many people see their choice of workout as something they prioritise and budget for, for others, the price of regular Reformer Pilates classes are not financially feasible.

Which is why the news that you’ll soon be able to pop down to your local Aldi store, head to the middle aisle, and pick up your own Reformer Pilates machine to take home with you that very same day, is music to our ears.

In a UK supermarket first, Aldi is bringing Reformer Pilates to the middle aisle, and it’s perfect for those looking to elevate their fitness routines in a long-term affordable way, as it offers professional-grade workouts without leaving the house.

Featuring adaptable resistance levels with five resistance bands, adjustable height settings, smooth gliding functionality, transport wheels for easy movement, and foldable storage capabilities, Aldi says its versatile Reformer Pilates Machine ‘caters to all fitness levels’, making it a must-have addition to any home gym or exercise space.

Aldi outside
Outside an Aldi store / Credit: Aldi Corporate

It even comes complete with an introductory exercise chart too, so whether you’re looking to strengthen your core, improve flexibility, or tone muscles, the machine is designed to help anyone achieve their fitness goals.

The viral Reformer Pilates Machine has already taken the internet by storm when it launched in Australia last year, with Brits begging the budget supermarket to bring it across the pond, and now it’s finally set to launch in UK Aldi stores nationwide on Sunday 25 May.

The Reformer Pilates Machine will set you back £149, which we know isn’t cheap, let’s say, but it’s certainly cheaper in the long run if you’re an avid Pilates practicer.

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Shoppers better limber up though, as is the case with all Aldi Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if you’re keen to get your hands on a machine, you’ll need to act fast.

Head down to your local Aldi on Sunday 25 May and get checking that middle aisle.

Featured Image – Aldi

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