Sainsbury’s set to open £12m Omagh supermarket next Thursday

OMAGH’S retail offering is set for a major boost next Thursday, November 12, when Sainsbury’s officially opens the doors of its brand-new £12 million supermarket at Great Northern Retail Park.

The new store, which will bring a major household name to the town for the first time, represents a significant investment in Omagh and the wider West Tyrone area, creating employment opportunities, expanding shopping choice and providing greater convenience for customers across the town and surrounding rural communities.

Employing 135 colleagues at launch, with further recruitment expected as the business grows, the supermarket has been designed to bring together a wide range of shopping options under one roof.

It will feature Sainsbury’s extensive food range, including everyday essentials, household products and its popular Free From ranges, alongside the retailer’s Tu clothing collection.

Customers will also be able to access Argos and Habitat products through Click and Collect, while Nectar Prices and personalised offers will provide additional opportunities to make savings.

Christian Wakelin, Sainsbury’s head of Supermarket Property Development, said the opening formed part of the company’s ambitious plans to expand its supermarket presence and make its food range accessible to more customers.

He explained that Sainsbury’s was in the third year of a major programme to bring more of its products to more locations throughout the UK, particularly towns which had not previously had a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

“Omagh already has a strong retail offer and serves a wide rural catchment - we saw a great opportunity to complement this by bringing a brand-new Sainsbury’s store to the area,” he said.

“Great Northern Retail Park provides an accessible location just off the A5, allowing us to serve customers both in the town and the surrounding communities.

“Our £12 million investment has included detailed analysis of local shopping habits and preferences, as well as the wider retail market, giving us confidence in the location’s long-term potential.

“Our ambition is to build on the success of Omagh’s existing retail offer, grow a loyal customer base and become a valued part of the local community.”

The opening will also mark an important milestone for the retailer, with Omagh becoming home to Sainsbury’s 13th supermarket in Northern Ireland.

Mr Wakelin said this reflected the company's continued commitment to the region and its determination to invest in locations where it could meet customer needs and broaden local choice.

At the helm of the new store will be manager Em Morris, who said she and her team were looking forward to welcoming customers and establishing strong connections with the local community.

She said the supermarket would offer shoppers a combination of quality, value and convenience, with the additional benefit of being able to access several of Sainsbury’s well-known brands in one location.

“We want to give people in Omagh more choice and convenience when they shop with us,” she said.

“At the heart of our new supermarket is a broad range of high-quality, great-value Sainsbury’s food, with plenty of choice for the everyday shop as well as something a little different.

“Customers will be able to shop our popular Tu clothing range in the store, as well as make the most of Nectar Prices and personalised offers.

“Argos and Habitat ranges will also be available via Click and Collect, bringing together our much-loved brands all under one roof.”

The additional shopping options have been introduced with convenience firmly in mind, allowing customers to browse Tu clothing and collect Argos and Habitat online orders during the same visit.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s Groceries Online service is also set to become available locally from November 25, with delivery slots already open for booking.

The service will give people in Omagh and the surrounding rural areas another way to shop, with groceries delivered directly to their doors.

Customers will also be able to use their Nectar cards when shopping online, collecting points and benefiting from offers in the same way as they would in store.

Ms Morris said the timing of the online launch, just ahead of Christmas, would provide even greater choice for local shoppers.

The new supermarket is also bringing a welcome employment boost to Omagh, with 135 colleagues already recruited for the opening.

Ms Morris said the company had been particularly pleased to welcome local people onto the team, including individuals taking their first steps into the world of work.

“As the store grows so will the team. It's really exciting to be opening in a new location and playing our part in creating jobs for people in Omagh,” she said.

“We’ve been recruiting lots of local talent, with some of our team brand new to the world of work.

“To be their first employer is such a privilege - Sainsbury’s offers opportunities to build a long-term career, with management training schemes and opportunities to develop and progress across our business.”

The store has also welcomed back five colleagues who previously worked in the former Omagh Homebase store, bringing some familiar local faces into the new venture.

Ms Morris said employing people from the area was an important part of ensuring the supermarket reflected the community it served.

The management team has strong local connections, and the company is also keen to develop relationships with community organisations, businesses and local groups through event support, fundraising and other initiatives.

She said: “During the recruitment process we have hired mainly from the local area, and we’ve got a really strong management team who know Omagh and the community.

“That makes a big difference because this is their own local store that they will shop in too.

“We’re also getting involved outside the store, whether that’s supporting local events, fundraising, or working with local organisations and businesses.

“Sainsbury’s is new to Omagh, so it is important to us that we get to know the community and become a real part of it.”

The response from the public in the run-up to the opening has been particularly encouraging, according to the store manager, with considerable interest in the products and services that will be available.

Ms Morris said people had been asking about everything from everyday household essentials to the supermarket's popular Free From ranges.

There had also been a positive response from local organisations and businesses interested in working with the company on community initiatives and events.

She said: “The response so far has been really welcoming - everyone we have spoken to has been incredibly friendly and there’s a real sense of excitement about the store opening on November 12.

“Members of the public who are looking forward to shopping with us are already asking about the range of products we will have in store, from everyday household items to our very popular Free From ranges.

“We’ve also been delighted by the response from local organisations and businesses who have reached out to collaborate with us on events and community initiatives.

“It’s going to be really special to become part of the Omagh community and continue building those local relationships.”

While Sainsbury’s is a new arrival in the town, Ms Morris was keen to stress that the company recognised Omagh already had a well-established retail sector.

Rather than seeking to replace existing businesses, the aim was to complement the town's current offering, introduce additional choice to the grocery market and attract customers from the wider rural catchment.

She said the team wanted to build a store that people would enjoy visiting and return to regularly, with customer feedback helping shape the service as the business developed.

“For me, it’s about creating a warm and friendly store that customers enjoy visiting and want to come back to,” she said.

“We’ve got a brilliant team, and we want to listen to our customers, understand what they need from their local store and consistently provide great service, value and quality.

“Success would be seeing customers return week after week, getting to know them and becoming a valued part of the Omagh community.”

With a £12 million investment, 135 jobs already created, more shopping brands coming together under one roof and online grocery deliveries arriving later in November,

Sainsbury’s is preparing for an exciting new chapter in Omagh's retail story when it opens next Thursday.