James Hall and Co launches two new SPAR stores

James Hall & Co has launched two new Lancashire SPAR stores in a fortnight at Lathom and Sharoe Green.

At Lathom, a brand-new SPAR store and eight pump Shell forecourt has reopened following a complete knockdown and site rebuild taking five months.

Located on the A5209 between Burscough and Parbold, the expanded SPAR store has been repositioned at the opposite end of the site, and the store now offers a Graham Eyes butchers counter, a Clayton Park Bakery serve over deli counter and hot food unit, and two Cheeky Coffee machines.

Other store highlights include a bakery section with freshly baked bread and breakfast products, and there is a market feel to the flowers and the loose fruit and vegetables that customers see first as they walk through the doors.

Another new addition is a strong frozen foods section under the Iceland brand, an extensive fresh foods range, and a broad selection of beers, wines, and spirits.

Externally, the forecourt features two EV charge points, AdBlue dispensers, and an air, screen wash, and vacuum area. There are also 25 car parking spaces and an ATM. The store and forecourt opening hours are 7am until 11pm.

The increased store size has also seen the staff numbers grow from nine to 29, with the original retail team retained and thrilled to reopen the store to the community, supported at launch by the mayor of West Lancashire Councillor Anne Fennell and the store’s charity partner Rainbow Hub.

Meanwhile, at Sharoe Green, a new SPAR store has opened within the walls of the former Fulwood police station in Preston marking a new chapter for the historic red brick building.

Located in the Fulwood Conservation Area, SPAR Sharoe Green mixes modern retail need with local heritage preservation and its opening has given the building a new lease of life while creating 19 new jobs for local people.

During the redevelopment process, key original architectural features from 1869 have been retained and restored to look as good as new, and this work includes all windows, stone sills, and headers, along with the building’s three distinctive chimneys.

The feeling of vibrancy continues inside as fresh flowers and a superb range of colourful fruit and vegetables greet customers as they first walk through the doors, with a Cheeky Coffee machine and Clayton Park Bakery hot food unit immediately to the left alongside freshly baked bread.

A large area of the store has been dedicated to Worldwide Foodstores products, including frozen lines, which sit next to a strong section of other frozen foods under the Iceland brand.

SPAR Sharoe Green also features a doorless air chilled beers, ciders, and wine room, with spirits available behind the counter. Store opening hours are 6am until 11pm.

The Mayor of Preston Coun Sue Whittam was on hand to open the store alongside Preston North End Community and Education Trust’s mascot Deepdale Duck as the charity has partnered with SPAR Sharoe Green.

Externally there is a customer parking, an EV charge point, an ATM, and a defibrillator which has been installed to the delight of the Preston Community First Responders and North West Ambulance Service.

Fiona Drummond, company stores director at James Hall and Co, said: “SPAR stores are at the heart of the communities that they serve, and in the case of Lathom, we recognised that with our store closed for five months we had to deliver the wow factor for our customers upon reopening. I am thrilled that we have provided that with the transformation.

“At Sharoe Green, we have taken care to sensitively preserve the heritage of Fulwood’s old police station for the community with our exceptional new store.

"I was delighted to hear customer feedback on the day covering our restoration work, as well as the range, value, and promotions in store. It is a pleasure to breathe new life into this cherished red brick building more than 150 years after it was originally built.”