SUPERMARKET managers have pledged that a new store will be for all sections of the community as it looks to triple its workforce in the next two years.

KW Foods opened its new store at the beginning of this month and has employed around 16 members of staff.

But it is hoped that the business at Cambrian Business Park, in Daubhill, will be able to expand and employ up to 50 workers from the town, while taking advantage of suppliers based in the Bolton area.

Zarine Khan, who is currently working at the store as an assistant manager, said: “This is our first store in Bolton. We wanted to expand the business and we thought it was a good area with a mixed community.

“We are hoping to employ about 50 people. We have that number in our Preston store so we want to do the same at our store here.”

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Roger Hayes, officially opened the store at the Derby Street business hub.

It specialises in serving fresh fruit and vegetables, Halal meat and poultry, a range of Asian and continental groceries, catering products and kitchenware.

Mrs Khan and store manager Qazi Ibrahim, said they might look to hire more staff in the run-up to Christmas depending on the business.

Jobs at the store could include cashiers, butchers, cleaners and managers.

Mrs Khan said: “We have had a big sale and a great response from people.

“We have a lot of great customers who come in and love the quality of the products as well as the fresh fruit and vegetables.”

And Mrs Khan was eager to stress that the store was here for everybody, not just for the Asian community, pointing out that they stock foods from across the world, including from Britain.

She said: “It is a very mixed community here and we have had a lot of people from Asian, Arabic, English and Bangladeshi backgrounds.

“We are not just a store for the Asian community. We are here for the whole community.

“We are happy to employ staff from any background.”

The store is currently run by the KW Foods’ managing director Mohammed Saleem and manager Qazi Ibrahim, who live in the Preston area.

Mr Saleem said: “We are starting with 16 staff, but the target is to employ approximately 50 staff in the next two years and promote trading with local suppliers and offer best service to the Bolton community.”