Inside the new Morrisons store at Dalton Park, where 2,200 people applied for 301 jobs

The new 30,000-sq-ft Morrisons store at Dalton Park shopping centre, in Murton, will welcome customers from Thursday, November 26.

Around 2,200 people applied for the 301 new full and part-time positions with about 1,200 eventually interviewed.

Another 47 Morrisons staff have transferred across from existing roles to take the total working at the new branch to just under 350.

While an exact breakdown of where employees are from is not available, store people manager Theresa Hall said “the majority of colleagues are from the local area”.

As well as the company’s familiar Market Street counters, the supermarket features a barista bar, floristry department, soft furnishings plus menswear, womenswear and children’s clothing.

A 152-seater cafe will fully open once lockdown restrictions are lifted with sanitiser stations already available throughout the branch.

Local groups such as charities, book clubs and craft groups will also be able to book the store’s community room for free.

Store manager Jen Weston said staff have been working hard behind the scenes for the last 10 days, adding: “We’ve really come together like a family with everyone helping each other and that can only benefit the customers.”

Planning permission for a supermarket at Dalton Park was granted as far back as 2014 before Morrisons put its plans on hold in 2016.

Mrs Weston said: “We know the residents of Murton have been eagerly anticipating the opening of this store and we’re pleased it has come at a time when the local community needs us more than ever.

"Today they get a brand new Morrisons store with skilled food making at the heart of it and plenty of useful services.”

Jerry Hatch, Dalton Park’s centre manager, said earlier this month: “A lot of hard work has been carried out behind the scenes in recent months so we are delighted to see this project being delivered and the benefits it will bring to our community.”

The supermarket will be open 7am-10pm from Mondays-Saturdays and from 11am-5pm on Sundays with click and collect and delivery services also available at www.morrisons.com..

Further details about how to book the community room once the pandemic eases are available by emailing Stephanie Carrel at [email protected].

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