Tesco reopens final former Shoprite store
The last of nine new Tesco stores has opened on the Isle of Man following the supermarket chain's takeover of Shoprite.
The new Express store on Victoria Road replaces the Winerite Neighbourhood Food Store on the site.
Area Manager Richard Frear said the takeover had seen a "herculean effort" across the firm, from hiring and training new staff to transporting equipment and stock.
The latest opening completes the conversion of those supermarket sites into five superstores and four express stores over the past 12 months.
In October 2023, Shoprite announced it had sold all of its stores to the retail giant after 50 years of trading.
Mr Frear said the firm was "super proud to complete the journey" of opening all nine new stores, which had created about 120 new jobs.
The supermarket chain now wanted to "continue to have a positive impact in the local community" through its Stronger Starts and food donation programmes, he said.
As with the other eight stores, the latest official opening is coupled with a £1,000 donation to a Manx charity, with the latest to benefit being Cruse Bereavement.
Mr Frear said while the firm already stocked the goods of 11 local suppliers, it hoped to increase the number on offer in the island's stores to "be Manx wherever we possibly can", he added.
The rebranding of the nine former Shoprite stores began in Castletown with the chain's Arbory Street site, which reopened in February 2024.
Along with the existing Tesco superstore on Lake Road, which opened in 2000, it means the retailer now has 10 shops on the island.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Tesco store opens on island after Shoprite takeover
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Manx farmers 'alarmed' over Tesco Shoprite takeover
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