25 jobs in store at new supermarket

Aldi have announced that their store at the Cuckoo Bridge roundabout on the A75 will open in the summer, described as bringing about 25 extra jobs to the town.
Hailing the jobs boost, SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said: “I am delighted that Aldi is investing in Dumfries with this second supermarket planned for Cuckoo Bridge.
“The guarantee of up to 25 new jobs is particularly welcome – especially since Aldi committed to pay above the voluntary Scottish Living Wage rate of £8.45.”
Aldi say the store in Dumfries is one of several set to open across Scotland this year, with others in Glasgow, Montrose, Drumchapel and Edinburgh.
Aldi Scotland managing director Richard Holloway said: “We want to build on the success of 2016 by opening additional stores in new locations in Scotland and work with even more of the best Scottish producers.”
Ms McAlpine said: “Aldi regularly showcases Scotland’s home grown produce.
“In an area where farming underpins the economy that support is very welcome, too.”
However, Dumfries Retailers Association chairman Rab Smith argues the new store will impact on trade elsewhere.
He said: “At the end of the day, how many pints of milk and loaves of bread can you sell?
“Once they buy them from Aldi, they don’t buy them from anywhere else.”
And while acknowledging the number of jobs at the store, he questions how many will be full time equivalent (FTE) – claiming there may be just the equivalent of ten jobs totalling 38 hours a week.
He said: “If Tesco suffer a bit from Aldi being next door, then they’ll cut back on hours.”
Mr Smith suggests Aldi will be looking to take about £200,000 a week in the new store.
He said: “That’s £200,000 less sales for everyone else.
“Now hopefully most of that will come out of Tesco, but some of it will come out of the town centre as well.”