New supermarket to open in vacant former discount store

Iceland has announced it will be closing down its current branch at Woodhall Retail Park in Thornbury, and opening a Food Warehouse supermarket in a much larger unit next door.

The company has said the current store’s existing staff will move over to the new unit, and more jobs will be created by the move the bigger premises.

The unit had been a Bargain Buys discount store, and a Carpet Wright and Pound World before that.

But the large store has been shut for some time, leaving a huge gap in the retail park.

Other business based at the site include a B&Q, the smaller Iceland unit and B&M.

The retail park is also a short distance from numerous other stores and supermarkets, including the Thornbury branch of Morrisons, Aldi, Bradford Plaza and Al Halal Worldwide Foods.

Details of the new Food Warehouse were revealed in planning applications submitted to Bradford Council this week.

The applications are for new doors and shop frontages, as well as new signage and a rear extension to house plant equipment for the new store.

The application form says the Food Warehouse store will have 10 full time and 30 part time staff.

Decisions on the applications are expected next month.

When asked for more details by the Telegraph & Argus, an Iceland spokesperson said "We can confirm that Iceland at Woodhall Retail Park will be closing, and a new The Food Warehouse store will open in its place.

The vacant unit is next to the current Iceland store (Image: T&A)

“All current employees will transfer to the new store, and additional roles will also be created. Exact dates are yet to be confirmed.

“We look forward to offering an expanded range of products and will share more updates as plans progress."

Food Warehouse stores are a sub-brand of the frozen food retailer, and are larger stores more akin to supermarkets, offering a wider range of non-frozen goods.

In 2018 Iceland opened its first Food Warehouse branch in Bradford in Manningham Retail Park.

Numerous branches have opened across the country in recent years, with a new branch at Wakefield Westgate due to be the next branch to open in West Yorkshire.

Planning permission to install four electric vehicle charging bays at the retail park was approved by Bradford Council this Summer.