Paralympic Gold Medallist Opens New Aldi Store in Castle Douglas
Castle Douglas welcomed its newest addition, the Aldi supermarket, with a grand opening ceremony led by Paralympic gold medallist, Jack Smith. The store, situated on Oakwell Road, was officially inaugurated last Thursday, with Jack being joined by enthusiastic pupils from Castle Douglas Primary School to cut the symbolic red ribbon.
Jack Smith, a member of Team GB’s victorious wheelchair rugby team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, not only performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting but also generously gifted the first 30 customers with bags of fresh fruit and vegetables from Aldi’s Super 6 range. Furthermore, he engaged the children in an assembly as part of Aldi’s Get Set to Eat Fresh initiative, aimed at educating young minds about the advantages of cooking and consuming fresh, nutritious food.
In his address, Jack emphasised the significance of maintaining a healthy diet, staying active, fostering self-belief, and shared his personal journey as a Paralympian. Expressing his delight, Jack stated, “It was an honour to officially open the store and welcome customers inside for the first time. It was great to speak with the children at Castle Douglas Primary School about the importance of eating healthily and how it can be fun to plan and prepare meals as a family.”
Moreover, Jack encouraged the pupils to remain physically active and explore various sports, hoping to ignite a passion for fitness and well-being among the youngsters. The store also organised a competition for the pupils, offering a £20 gift voucher for the best poster illustrating the concept of healthy eating.
Store manager Justin Wilson shared his excitement about the community’s positive response, stating, “It’s been a wonderful morning here at the opening of Aldi Castle Douglas. It was lovely to welcome our new customers into store, and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks. I’m also thrilled that we’ve been able to support Castle Douglas Primary School through our partnership with ParalympicsGB.”
Following a challenging planning phase, during which initial proposals were met with resistance, Aldi secured approval for the £6.4 million store in early 2023. Despite initial concerns, councillors were convinced of the benefits the supermarket would bring in terms of job creation and local convenience.
Aldi is now actively engaging with local charities and food banks through its collaboration with Neighbourly to facilitate the collection of surplus food and perishables, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the community. Charities interested in participating can reach out to aldi@neighbourly.com.
In conclusion, the opening of Aldi in Castle Douglas marks a significant milestone for the community, not only in terms of enhanced access to quality products and employment opportunities but also in fostering a culture of healthy living and community engagement. The participation of a Paralympic champion has added a touch of inspiration and motivation for the residents, especially the younger generation, to strive for excellence and well-being.