Waitrose has officially opened its new supermarket in Hale Barns following a multimillion-pound transformation of the former Asda store, creating 73 new jobs.
The 15,000 sq ft store at Hale Barns Square welcomed its first customers at 8am this morning, with the ribbon cut by local MP Connor Rand and employee Gemma Ferguson, who has worked on the site for 13 years.
The opening follows months of refurbishment work at the site, which was previously occupied by Asda until its closure at the end of July.
The completely redesigned supermarket now offers more than 15,000 products, with dedicated meat, fish and sushi counters, a fresh bakery and patisserie, and an extensive wine selection.
Among the new features are a dry-aged beef cabinet, hand-cut and speciality cheeses, and a fruit and vegetable section featuring organic, Fairtrade and regeneratively farmed produce.
The store also stocks Waitrose's No. 1, Essential and Duchy Organic ranges, alongside Fine & Rare wines and a selection of low- and no-alcohol alternatives.
The opening has created 73 new jobs, with three experienced Waitrose employees also transferring to the branch.
Customers can use Click & Collect services for John Lewis, Waitrose Entertaining and Waitrose Cellar, while rapid home delivery is available through Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
The store has also introduced electronic shelf labels, removing the need for staff to update prices manually, and a new AI-powered app that provides employees with instant information on product availability, wine pairings and cooking recommendations.
Waitrose has pledged to donate £12,000 annually to local charities and community groups through its Community Matters initiative.
Freddie Sackey-Addo, Waitrose Regional Manager, said: "After months of hard work behind the scenes, seeing the first shoppers walk through the doors this morning was a huge moment for all of us.
"This destination store has been designed around a genuine passion for food - from our Partners working on the counters and bakery to the curated wine selection and fresh fruit, vegetables and more.
"We hope our customers treat this as their neighbourhood shop, whether they're grabbing a quick lunch, looking for advice on what to have for dinner, or discovering something new during their regular weekly shop. Hale Barns is a great location and we can't wait to meet all our new customers."
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Altrincham and Sale West MP Connor Rand.
He said: "It's wonderful to see Waitrose investing in this new store in the heart of Hale Barns. It's a clear demonstration of what a vibrant and welcoming community we have to attract such a big national brand to our high street.
"I know that local residents in Hale are very much looking forward to the opening and I'm sure Waitrose will become a valued part of our community."
The first customer through the doors at 8am received a bouquet of flowers, while other shoppers were treated to welcome drinks, food tastings and free commemorative tote bags.
A new chapter for Hale Barns Square
The opening marks another significant change for the shopping centre, which has seen three different supermarket operators occupy its main unit since the redeveloped Square opened in April 2015.
Northern supermarket chain Booths was the original anchor tenant, operating for almost nine years before announcing its departure in February 2024.
Asda subsequently took over the premises, investing a seven-figure sum in its own refurbishment before opening in May 2024.
However, Asda's tenure proved short-lived, with the supermarket closing on 31 July this year after little more than two years.
Altrincham Today exclusively revealed in May that Waitrose was preparing to take over the site.
The arrival of Waitrose also completes a long-running connection with Hale Barns Square. The chain was originally earmarked as the anchor tenant for the redevelopment but withdrew from the project in December 2008, subsequently opening a store at Stamford Brook in Broadheath.
The new Hale Barns branch forms part of Waitrose's wider £1 billion nationwide investment programme, which includes upgrading existing stores and expanding its supermarket network.
It adds to the retailer's existing local branches in Broadheath, Knutsford and Wilmslow.
The new Hale Barns Waitrose will be open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
