Jobs Boosted As Enniskillen Asda Grows

Supermarket giant Asda has announced a £4m extension for one of its Co Fermanagh stores.

Up to 40 full and part-time jobs will be created as a result of the 12,000 sq ft remodelling at the Enniskillen branch.

The store has become Asda’s busiest in Northern Ireland, due in part to the surge of shoppers from the Republic making the trip north to take advantage of the Euro's strength against the pound.

The redevelopment, which began last week and is due to be completed by mid-March, will boast an expanded George fashion department, a wider range of entertainment and homewares and additional check-outs and aisle space. The store will also introduce a new McGee's butchery counter.

"2009 was a fantastic year for us, culminating in record-breaking December sales," said Peter Beckett, General Manager of the Enniskillen store.

"The support from our local customers and from those travelling across the border was phenomenal, as was the dedication and hard work of each and every colleague who works here."

The influx of cross-border shoppers bolstered the store’s weekly takings to more than £3m in the run-up to Christmas. In an effort to keep up with the rocketing sales, the store created 110 new car parking spaces and took on additional 100 temporary workers.

Mr Beckett added: "As well as launching the extended and improved store, later this year we will launch a home shopping service giving customers, who don't have a store on their doorstep, access to Asda's famously low prices.

"Despite the impact of the economic recession, we've proved that Asda delivers the range, value and service that the public wants and this is only set to continue in our bigger, brighter supermarket."

(NS/BMcC)