What’s in store?

[Wera Hobhouse MP with (L) James McCarthy Morrisons Regional Manager and Peter Morrell, Store Manager, Morrisons Bath]

I had no idea that Morrisons was British farming’s single biggest direct customer. That is until l read a press release from the office of Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse.

She paid a visit to the supermarket’s city store on the London Road, meeting Regional Manager James McCarthy and Store Manager Peter Morrell for a tour of the aisles, a stop to taste the free samples of Cheddar cheese at their famous Market Street section, and a cuppa in their in-store cafe. 

Wera heard about how Morrisons, headquartered in Bradford, employs some 95,000 colleagues in 497 Morrisons supermarkets and more than 1,700 convenience stores across the country. In Bath, they provide jobs for around 200 people.

As British farming’s single biggest direct customer, Morrisons proudly offers 100% British meat at its butchers’ counters, alongside a wide selection of local and regional products. They have a strategic partnership with Myton Food Group, packing and processing fresh meats and fish, savoury and sweet pies, fruit and veg, flower bouquets, bread and more across their 18 sites. 

After paying for her purchases with Mary at checkout number four, Wera sat down for a cuppa with Peter Morrell and with George Chick, a volunteer with Foodcycle. Morrisons is one of several businesses that donate surplus produce to FoodCycle, who then use it to whip up delicious, nutritious and FREE meals for the local community in Bath. George told Wera how this helps to save tonnes of food each year from going to waste, supports local people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and combats other important issues such as social isolation.

George Chick, a volunteer for Foodcycle, said:

“It’s brilliant to see our local MP wanting to learn more about projects like FoodCycle, which operate in Bath and nationwide. In Bath alone, we currently provide on average between 100-150 meals a month to local people in need and with the right support, we can increase that. We rely heavily on donations from local businesses, funding and volunteers to continue operating, so it’s also great to hear from supermarkets such as Morrisons that they would like to do more. There are a range of roles available for members of the community to help out, and I would encourage all those who are in a position to do so to explore what they can do to help.”

.

Peter Morrell, Store Manager of Morrisons Supermarket Bath, said: 

“We were delighted to welcome Wera to our store last week.  She was able to see the pivotal role Morrisons plays within the community here in Bath, not only as somewhere for our customers to buy great tasting, affordable food, but also as a place for our colleagues to grow their careers.  She also enjoyed a drink in our cafe and saw first-hand the social community space it has become”.

 Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, commented: 

“I was really impressed with this well-loved Bath supermarket. The range, prices, quality, cleanliness and friendly and helpful staff all stood out. Their commitment to British farming is exemplary, as is the community engagement with the Foodcycle project right on their doorstep.

“Their ability to serve the grocery needs of so many thousands of Bathonians every day in this well-established setting, set back from the road so it does not disrupt the visual and environmental character of this gateway approach into our city, is so important. This all reinforces my strong opinion that there is no place for a LIDL in this location and I will continue to voice my objections to that proposed development whenever I can.”