Seventh Suffolk Aldi opens in Martlesham Heath
Olympic gold medallist Saskia Clark and store manager Joe Lawrence at the brand new Aldi in Martlesham Heath Picture: NICK STRUGNELL - Credit: � Nick Strugnell / UNP 0845 600 7737
A brand new Aldi store on the outskirts of Ipswich has officially opened its doors to the public.
Olympic gold medallist Saskia Clark and store manager Joe Lawrence at the brand new Aldi in Martlesham Heath Picture: NICK STRUGNELL - Credit: � Nick Strugnell / UNP 0845 600 7737
Olympic gold medallist Saskia Clark cut the all-important ribbon at the popular budget supermarket in Martlesham Heath on Thursday morning.
Located in Gloster Road, which is near to key stores in Martlesham Retail Park and Beardmore Park, it is the seventh Aldi to open in Suffolk and boasts more than 1,000sq m of retail space.
It will be run by store manager Joe Lawrence, along with a team of 46 colleagues from the surrounding area.
Plans for the store were unanimously approved by Suffolk Coastal District Council's planning committee in March last year, following an outpouring of public support.
Despite formal objections submitted by Martlesham Parish Council and Woodbridge Town Council, planners received more than 886 letters backing the scheme.
Debbie McCallum, who was planning committee chairman at the time, said: "The public want it and that's what we are here to do - to serve our public."
Alistair Close, planning consultant for Aldi, added that the budget supermarket chain was "overwhelmed by the level of support" which was "almost unprecedented for a supermarket planning application".
Most Read
- 1 Crash involving ambulance closes Ipswich road
- 2 Richest people in East Anglia revealed on Sunday Times Rich List
- 3 Police carry out 'pre-planned' operation in Felixstowe road
- 4 'You have broken us!' - New cafe at Suffolk beauty spot on huge demand
- 5 Suffolk fish and chip van to feature on Escape to the Country
- 6 Parking woes for shop parade hit by 'continous roadworks'
- 7 Driver taken to hospital after car crashes into parked vehicle
- 8 Ipswich salon to offer free gent's haircut at Suffolk Show
- 9 Fuel spillage causes delays on busy Ipswich road after truck breaks down
- 10 See inside stunning £1.15m home a stone's throw away from Christchurch Park
Speaking at the opening, Mr Lawrence said: "It's been a fantastic morning here at the store. It was lovely to meet our new customers and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks.
"I'd also like to say a big thank you to the wonderful Saskia Clark for joining us."
Ms Clarke, a Team GB sailor who once regularly trained on the River Orwell, added: "It's been an honour to be a part of Aldi's special day.
"I've had a great time talking to both the adults and children of Martlesham Heath about healthy eating and my experience of the Olympics."
As part of the company's Get Set To Eat Fresh campaign, which hopes to teach children about the benefits of cooking healthy food with their families, the Olympian handed out free bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to the first 30 customers in the queue.
Aldi stores have also been opened in Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Thetford, Brandon and Diss.
