Slaithwaite’s new Aldi store will open next week with the creation of 40 jobs.
The 1,100 sq m ‘medium-sized’ supermarket has been built on the site of the former Colne Mills in Britannia Road.
The doors will open for the first time at 8am on Thursday, November 27.
The first 100 customers will receive a special ‘golden ticket’ with the chance to win vouchers and other prizes.
Plans for the new store spilt the village with protesters fearing that the extra traffic would clog the streets and claiming business would be lost from independent shops.
Some locals welcome the competition and choice, and planning permission was eventually granted by Kirklees Council.
The new store has taken nine months to build and has 90 car parking spaces.
It is built on the former site of a mill building that was destroyed by fire in August 2013. See images from the blaze below.
The store will stock 1,500 lines.
Store manager Simon Dean said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the people of Slaithwaite to their new Aldi store and hope that they enjoy the special golden ticket event.
“Aldi would like to thank everyone for their patience and support over the last nine months and hope that customers enjoy their new Aldi store
“We look forward to continuing our engagement with the local community in the future.”
Colne Valley Liberal Democrat councillors Nicola Turner and David Ridgeway hope the store will boost the village.
He said: “I think it will be good as it should assist shop-ability on the village’s main street.
“It’s tided up a derelict corner of Slaithwaite and to have medium-sized store is excellent because it means that residents may not have to travel as far to do their shopping.
“I think it will be an asset to people and I don’t think that the fears of traffic problems will be as great as have been portrayed by those less welcoming of the store.”
The store’s opening times are 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
