Builders have this week been putting the finishing touches to a new supermarket development in Co Down.

Sainsbury's has opened its latest store in Northern Ireland today at Balloo Retail Park in Bangor.

Some 250 new staff will be employed in the 70,000 sq. ft. store, which has 41,000 sq. ft. of retail space and represents a multi-million pound investment for Sainsbury's.

The store is the first of Sainsbury's in Northern Ireland to have a Biomass Boiler, which will provide all of the heat for the store via a wood pellet burner.

The store also boasts a 60,000-litre rainwater harvesting system, which will be used to flush customer and colleague toilets in store, which accounts for 60% of the store's water usage.

Along with a number of other state of the art efficiency methods this store will be one of the most energy efficient in the North Down Borough and comes with the highest attainable energy rating.

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Senior management in Northern Ireland last night welcomed invited guests from the locality for a preview of the new store. Guests included Dr. Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Bangor, local Councillors, Council officials as well as representatives of the local Chambers of Commerce and Town Centre Management.

Store Manager John Lockhart said: "Today is a very exciting day for the team here at Sainsbury's Bangor. We have a fantastic group of colleagues from the local area who have worked tirelessly over the last couple of months in the run up to opening.

"We are confident that our customers will be delighted with the offering here at Sainsbury's which includes TU Clothing, homeware, textiles, toys, digital media and entertainment in the non-food section and a full food offering.

"While we are currently seeking the grant of a liquor licence for the sale of alcohol from this store we have an extended grocery range for Christmas and we have a full spectrum of Sainsbury's Great Food Counters. These include separate Fish, Meat, Deli and Hot Food Counters with a Pizza Bar, Salad Bar and a Bakery.

"The store will also be the first in Northern Ireland to introduce the new look Café Fresh concept," he added.

Next Monday will see the conclusion of another large construction project with the opening of another news supermarket development, this time in Co Antrim, with the launch of the new Tesco Northcott, in Glengormley.

(BMcC)