Tesco celebrates 25 years in Cirencester (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tesco celebrates 25 years in Cirencester

CIRENCESTER'S Tesco Metro is celebrating 25 years at its current location this month with a whole host of treats for staff and customers.

As customers prepare for a range of give-aways, staff at the Farrell Close store are getting ready for a special party on April 16.

And because the store has some of the highest staff retention rates of Tesco stores nationwide there will also be celebrations for long serving team members.

Among those receiving recognition are Paul Mueller and Rose Pitts who have both worked at Tesco for 25 years. Both Paul and Rose can remember the first hectic day in the new premises all those years ago.

Also receiving a long service award will be Richard Matthews who has been with the company for 32 years.

He used to work at the old Dyer Street Tesco as a butcher before moving with the company to it's new home.

Pam Lay has worked at Tesco Metro for 19 years and explained why the store was still so popular. She said: "It's what we make it and it's lovely, we have some lovely customers and it's also because we care."

Store manager Stephen Auty agreed and said it was why so many staff had been at the store for so long.

He said: "It's good moral in shop really, it's the rapport we build up with them, I find the customers here very friendly as a whole."

He went on to explain what the store had planned for its 25th Birthday celebrations.

He said: "We've got the party in a week and we've actually managed to get hold of a lot of people who used to work here, members of staff and managers. People from head office are coming down."

Although there is now a Tesco Extra on the edge of town the Tesco Metro was a big step forward when it first opened and was one of the first superstores in Cirencester. It has continued to thrive despite competition from the bigger stores.

With the staff set to party at the Corn Hall on April 16, customers are also set to take part in the celebrations with a big competition. Stephen explained: "It's to give something back to customers to say thank you."