Rochdale celebrates opening of new family-owned SPAR store

Situated at Mayfield Parade on Albert Royds Street, the new SPAR is owned by Greater Manchester and Cheshire SPAR retailers the Uppal family, who have now opened their sixth store.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Cllr Mike and Margaret Holly, were on hand to cut the ribbon to officially open the store alongside the Uppals, in front of a community eager to explore what the store had to offer.

On the opening day, there were free product tastings including a range of Fazilas’ curries stocked at the store, and the first 50 customers through the doors received a bag full of free products.

Sweetening the opening was a chance to spin the SPAR wheel to win free SPAR sweets, and children had the opportunity to take advantage of a face painter and could have their photos taken with SPAR mascots SPARtan and SPARkle.

Store features include a Cheeky Coffee unit, Tango Ice Blast machine and a hot Food To Go counter. These sit in-store together with a comprehensive range of grocery and fresh convenience products to support the needs of residents in the area.

Outside, there is plentiful parking for customers and an ATM will be installed in due course.

The SPAR has employed 15 local people giving the store a true community feel. Adding to those community links is the support for Rochdale Football Club’s Dale v Hunger foodbank, with the club’s mascot Desmond the Dragon also present at the launch.

Paul Uppal said: “We are excited to bring our fantastic convenience retail offer to Rochdale with the opening of our sixth SPAR store and we were thrilled with the reception we had at launch from the local community.

“It has been many months in the planning with the whole family working to deliver a great first impression, and the big day was worth all of that effort when you saw all the smiling face and happy families coming into shop with us.

“I would like to thank the team at James Hall & Co. Ltd who service all of our SPAR stores for supporting our launch. They really have blown it out of the park with our Rochdale opening. It really was overwhelming, exceeding our expectations, and we have a positive platform to build on.”

Local resident Samaya Bilbas said: “I’m really impressed with the store; it has a really good range of products that are competitively priced and is great for every day essentials. I think if it continues to be affordable, people will shop here.

“It is well located in the area with the school just around the corner. My two boys have really enjoyed the Tango Ice Blast slushes as a treat after school, and I am looking forward to coming back in a morning to try the coffee machine.”

The Mayor of Rochdale Cllr Mike Holly said: “I was very pleased to be asked to attend the launch of the new SPAR store in Rochdale and it was lovely to meet the Uppal family and learn more about SPAR’s offer through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd.

“The new store is visibly very impressive, and it has made excellent use of a vacant unit. What’s more, it has provided employment for local people which really is doubly brilliant news for the community.”

Peter Dodding, Sales Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd and Chairman of the Northern Guild of SPAR retailers, added: “I’m delighted that the Uppal family have had a hugely successful launch of their sixth SPAR store and how warmly it was received by members of the community in Rochdale.

“It is ideally located on a busy main road with housing all around it, and I have every confidence in the Uppals with their considerable retail experience to deliver a superb convenience offer for the people of Rochdale.”