Co Tyrone: 140 jobs expected as Sainsbury’s confirms £12m supermarket investment
Up to 140 jobs are expected to be created as part of £12million retail investment in Co Tyrone.
It follows confirmation Sainsbury's will soon be expanding its presence in Northern Ireland with its 13th supermarket and its first-ever store in Omagh.
The company plans to launch the new outlet in Great Northern Retail Park this November.
Work has now started on the site of the supermarket, which was recently granted planning permission. During the public consultation process, the proposals saw around 70% of respondents in support.
The retailer says it is committed to keeping the people of the area updated throughout the construction process.
Christian Wakelin, Sainsbury’s head of supermarket development, said: "We’re really excited to be ploughing ahead with our plans to open our 13th store in Northern Ireland and bring Sainsbury's to Omagh for the very first time, creating 140 jobs for local people and completely revitalising two units in the Great Northern Retail Park in the process.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has engaged with and supported the proposals throughout the planning process so far – we’ll keep the local community updated along the way between now and when we welcome our first customers through the door in November."
The project will also include a Sainsbury’s Groceries Online offer, meaning all customers in Northern Ireland will have access to the retailer’s home delivery service for the first time.
Iain Semple, Sainsbury’s regional stores director for Northern Ireland, said: "It's incredibly exciting to be preparing to bring Sainsbury's to Omagh for the first time with this important investment in the town.
"What’s more, the arrival of this store means our fantastic Groceries Online offer will now be available to all our customers in Northern Ireland.”
In the meantime, initial recruitment for the new team is now underway and anyone interested in applying can do so by keeping an eye on the Sainsbury’s Jobs website over the next few weeks.
Iain added: “As we start recruiting our new colleagues, we're looking forward to building a fantastic team, welcoming customers when the time comes and becoming an important part of the local community.
"We know there is real enthusiasm for a Sainsbury's store in Omagh, and we can't wait to share updates as work progresses and we move closer to opening."