The new owners of SPAR Abbots Cross in Newtownabbey have officially reopened the store following a nine-week refurbishment, extension and complete refit.

Investing £620,000 into the business, new owners and sisters Becky and Lucy McCammond have also created four new jobs for the local area, bringing the team to a total of 14 people.

The refurbished store includes a new Delish Grab and Go hot food counter, a butchery range from Mayfield Village butchers, an Ice Budz slushie machine and The National Lottery, as well as EVRI parcel service soon to be available in store. The Post Office has been relocated in-store to provide all services vital to the local community.

The store officially reopened on Friday 31 May, with the shop floor extension enabling the McCammonds to double the selection of fresh and locally sourced products available to shoppers. The new SPAR Bakery will feature daily fresh bakes from new local suppliers, including McErlain's Bakery, French Village, Slemish Bakery and Patton's Bakery, along with SPAR's signature fresh cream range.

The store recently donated over £200 to local charity Angel Wishes, which supports children in Northern Ireland with cancer related conditions. The team also makes ongoing donations to their local foodbank, Trussell Trust, while supporting Abbots Cross Primary School’s annual sports days.

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The team is currently preparing to take part in the upcoming Marie Curie Blooming Great Summer event from the 7 to 9 June. They are also developing plans to expand their charity support and community engagement in the coming months.

Additionally, following the refurbishment, the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) remains installed outside the store, ensuring 24/7 access to vital lifesaving equipment for the local community, even when the store is closed.

Lucy McCammond said: "This store has always been a hub in the local community, so this is something that is so important for Becky and I to continue. Not only has the shopping experience vastly improved but the store has been redesigned to more than meet the demands of the local community, providing everyday essentials and much more on shoppers' doorsteps.

"We are really proud to bring such a variety of options for our shoppers, including a huge expansion of the fresh and local products, the new SPAR bakery products, the new hot food-to-go counter and local butchery range, all of which brings more convenience under one roof.

"We have made significant efforts in the sustainability of the new look store with the installation of energy saving refrigeration and lighting. We have also made major investments into the latest retail technology to make the shopping experience as seamless as possible for shoppers and bring new efficiencies for our staff. This includes the addition of Electronic Shelf Edge Labels, GLORY cash management, which means zero handling of cash by staff, and a choice between self and serviced checkouts.

"It has been great to welcome four new team members as we start our new roles as store owners, as well as being able to support the existing and long serving team members at SPAR Abbots Cross. We are honoured to be the new owners of SPAR Abbots Cross and we are looking forward to what the future holds for this store."

Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group, added: "We are delighted to welcome Becky and Lucy as new retail partners under the SPAR brand. We have invested with the retailers to provide a new and improved shopping experience for the local community in Newtownabbey, which recognises our ambitions to continue to invest in independent estate across Northern Ireland.

"Becky and Lucy are the perfect example of the next generation of independent retailers working with us to grow the SPAR brand to bring even more value to shoppers with our locally sourced and own-brand products, and a continued commitment to regular deals on high demand every day essentials."