New Omagh Sainsbury's manager on plans for opening. * 4 November 2026 THE countdown is on to the official opening of Sainsbury's new £12 million Omagh supermarket, which will bring 135 jobs and another major name to the town's retail landscape. Ahead of Thursday, November 12, store manager Em Morris spoke to the Ulster Herald about the excitement surrounding the new store, the recruitment of local people and what customers can expect when its doors open. How excited are you about opening the new Sainsbury's store in Omagh. What do you think it will bring to the town? "We're all really excited. We've got a fantastic local team, and we can't wait to open the doors and show everyone what we have to offer. "We want to bring people in Omagh more choice, great value and convenience, alongside really friendly service. Ultimately, we want to become a valued part of the community and a store that customers enjoy coming back to." Recruitment How many people have been recruited? How many are from the local area? "During the recruitment process we have hired mainly from the local area, with 135 colleagues employed instore at the time of opening, and we've got a really strong management team who know the area and the community. That makes a big difference because this is their own local store that they will shop in too. "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. 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. "We are also delighted to welcome back five colleagues who worked in the previous Omagh Homebase store." What will distinguish the new store from other major supermarkets already operating in Omagh? "We're focused on giving people more convenience and choice. At the core of our new supermarket is an extensive selection of delicious, high-quality, great-value Sainsbury's food. "We're also bringing our popular Tu clothing range to the store, alongside Nectar Prices and personalised offers. Our Argos and Habitat ranges will also be available via Click & Collect, bringing together our much-loved brands under one roof. "For me, it's about helping to make sure customers get great service when they come in. We have a brilliant local team, and we want people to enjoy shopping here and for Sainsbury's to become a genuine part of the Omagh community." Why was Omagh chosen, and what reaction have you received from the local community? How do you intend to compete on price, quality and choice? "Omagh already has a really strong retail offering and serves a wide surrounding area, so we're really pleased to be bringing Sainsbury's to the town and giving customers more choice locally. The response so far has been incredibly welcoming. There's a real sense of excitement about the store opening, and we've already had lots of interest from customers in the products and ranges we'll be bringing." What can customers expect when the store opens on November 12? "When we open our doors on November 12, customers can expect a broad range of high-quality, great value Sainsbury's food, alongside Tu clothing, Nectar Prices and personalised offers, as well as Click & Collect for Argos and Habitat. We've also got a brilliant local team who are really looking forward to welcoming customers into the store and providing great service from day one. "Ultimately, we want to give people in Omagh greater choice, quality and value, while making shopping as convenient as possible. We hope customers enjoy what we have to offer and that the store becomes a valued part of the Omagh community."

Major retail buyers to meet Scottish producers in Aberdeen to grow sector. Reading Time: 3 mins read Key buyers from major retailers including Aldi, Sainsbury's and ASDA, are set to meet more than 250 Scottish food and drink business leaders in Aberdeen at the Scotland Food & Drink Industry Conference. Producers from the length and breadth of Scotland have been invited to hear from and to meet major buyers and influential figures from retail, food service and hospitality as well as government, enterprise agencies and growth partners. Scotland's food and drink sector is currently valued at a record £19 billion, a total that the Scotland Food & Drink Industry Conference 2027 aims to increase to £30 billion by 2030. The conference will be held at the P&J Live arena in Aberdeen for the first time on 3 March 2027 and will feature a wide range of expert speakers on key growth topics including practical support on accessing new markets, growing shelf-space for Scottish products, net zero, and succession planning. The speaker line-up combines sector experts from leadership organisations, the heads of some of Scotland's most successful food and drink businesses, and major retailers. Attendees will be the first to access new and exclusive trends data to equip them for building market opportunities, as well as the chance to connect and build relationships with key potential buyers. Research from The Knowledge Bank, Scotland Food & Drink's insights hub, found that more than half of Scots said that 'made in Scotland' provenance was important to them (51%), and the vast majority (87%) want to be able to buy more food and drink produced in Scotland[1]. The Knowledge Bank also found that more than half (56%) of people in the UK outside of Scotland would like to be able to buy more Scottish food and drink products when grocery shopping[2]. So, while there is a desire for more Scottish products in UK baskets, the conference aims to capitalise on demand on grow the availability of Scottish products on shelves across the country. The Scotland Food & Drink Industry Conference 2027 will provide the support, knowledge and insight to help producers reach build their markets and ultimately grow. Iain Baxter, CEO of Scotland Food & Drink, said: "Its sector has an £11 billion in potential growth between now and 2030. To achieve that Retail Times need to match the ambition of its businesses with the practical tools they need to seize on the opportunity. "The Scotland Food & Drink Industry Conference in March is a unique opportunity for businesses to be part of the conversation around the future of its sector and empower them with insights, connections, practical guidance and inspiration to realise this growth potential. "Our sector is unique in its collaboration and shared determination to grow and make Scotland the best place in the world to own, operate or work in a food and drink business. Our £19 billion valuation is a positive reflection on the endeavour and entrepreneurial spirit of our business leaders, but as global appetites for the premium products we produce grows, we have to be prepared to take advantage of that demand." ONE Seedpod has been confirmed as headline partner for the event. Alan Thorpe, director of ONE Food & Drink, said: "We are excited about partnering with Scotland Food & Drink to bring this conference to Aberdeen for the first time. ONE SeedPod is Scotland's innovation hub and located just up from the conference venue, so we're looking forward to showing a national audience the exciting innovation and development happening here in the north east of Scotland." To find out more about the Scotland Food & Drink Industry Conference 2027 and to book your tickets, please visit: https://industryconference.foodanddrink.scot/