Factory superstore boost for shoppers

The Original Factory Shop has snapped up the former supermarket building at the corner of Main Street and Orchard Street, which closed last November with the loss of 35 jobs, and plans to pump £250,000 of investment.

Co-op had itself only taken over the former Somerfield unit three years earlier.

But the shop will end up lying empty for just a few months with the launch of the town’s latest major shop on April 6, creating 20 new jobs.

The Original Factory Shop was established in 1969 and has more than 180 stores across the UK selling a variety of goods including clothing, footwear, cosmetics and fragrance, fashion accessories, electrical goods, housewares, home furnishings and toys.

“There’s a real buzz around town about us opening and the feeling is that our blend of great value, well-known brands and unbeatable prices will make us a firm favourite with local and visiting shoppers alike,” he said.

Meanwhile, work is continuing on another major development in Mexborough was engineers continue to construct a new Farmfoods store at the former site of the Plant Hotel on Wath Road, with the promise of 15 jobs.