New Asda manager takes charge of refit plans (From Falmouth Packet)

New Asda manager takes charge of refit plans

4:59pm Monday 3rd December 2007 in News By Gavin Harlow

THE new manager of Asda Penryn has been set the task of overseeing a huge refit in the store just weeks after being appointed.

Steve Smith, 38, from St Austell, really did hit the ground running when he was appointed as the new general manager just six weeks ago.

Replacing former manager Lee Williamson, Steve is excited about the refit and could not be happier to be in charge of the 10-year-old store.

Steve, who has worked for Asda for the past 15 years at various locations across the country, said: "I am very pleased that this is my first store. There is a fantastic team of staff and managers and the customers are brilliant.

"They see it as their Asda and it has become part of the community. The store itself is ten years old but it has been maintained extremely well and is a great place to work."

But despite the good condition of the store, there are plans to expand it by 12,000 square feet, install a mezzanine area which will be accessed by escalators and a complete refit of the racks, fridges and freezers in the rest of the store, as well as providing a new layout.

There are also plans to provide more parking spaces through a multi-deck car park at the side of the store but these have not been approved by planners yet.

The new mezzanine area will help the store to expand its George clothing and home range, as well as providing space to sell more electrical goods.

There will also be an increase in the number of checkouts, both staffed and self-service, to compensate for the expansion.

Steve said: "These are certainly exciting times for Asda in Penryn and when the work is completed it will be a fantastic store for our customers and it will be one that they deserve."

If all goes to plan the work should begin early in the New Year and the aim is for the work to be finished by the summer at the latest.

"There will be some disruption but it should only be for a couple of months and it should be minimal. We will consult with our customers and if they have any problems they can come and talk to me. I like to interact with our customers as much as I can."

Steve also plans to introduce home shopping at the store, once the refit is complete, where customers can order their goods online and have them delivered to their front doors.

A family man, Steve is married with three children aged five, three and seven months. His wife Samantha, nee Pellow, is from Helston and has danced several times during the popular Flora Day celebrations.

Despite being born in Luton, Steve also has strong family ties to Cornwall with relations living in Falmouth, Penryn and Helston.

"The best thing about this store is the customers, I can not emphasis that enough and I would like to take this chance to say Merry Christmas to them all from me and the rest of the team here and if people see me in the shop they are more than welcome to come and have a chat," said Steve.