MORRISONS are to create 50 new jobs in Verwood before the autumn.

The store is offering academy skills training and career opportunities to local people in the run-up to the new, larger store opening.

The new 64,771 square foot store is currently being built within the car park of the existing store.

It will be 34,799 square feet larger than the old one, and will feature a new deli, cake shop and a “Fresh to Go” takeaway area.

A new café is also being built.

The new store has been under construction since February and is expected to be open this autumn, upon which the existing store will be demolished over three weeks, and additional car parking created.

Many of the new jobs will be in fresh food preparation in the new deli, cake shop and takeaway. Positions will also be available in the new café.

All staff will be offered career opportunities, including intensive training on food and preparation skills via Morrisons Academy.

This will mean staff can help customers on much more than aisle numbers, including advising on food choices, food com-binations, cooking tips and matching wine.

Store manager Martin Rolfe said: “Our unique strength is in the preparation of quality fresh food through our market street while still maintaining Morrisons great value. We want to deliver more of what matters to Verwood customers when our new store opens this autumn.

“We would like to provide opportunities for new colleagues and help them build a career in retailing. We won’t just be providing a job – we’re committed to training our colleagues so that they have the capability to move from the shop floor to the top floor.”

Morrisons is holding an open day from 4pm-7pm this Monday, and from midday until 5.30pm on Tuesday at The Verwood Hub in Brock Way, BH31 7QE.

A spokesman for Morrisons said: “We have worked very closely with the community, local residents and the council on the project.

“This has included the relocation of the Verwood’s leisure centre to the town centre, and the relocation of our existing pharmacy to the front of our new store.”

  • THE struggling chain has announced it is to axe 2,600 jobs as part of a drive to modernise the way its stores are managed.

Chief executive Dalton Philips wants to remove layers of management that currently mean some stores have seven tiers between the shop floor and the store manager.

The changes will involve around 2,600 redundancies, although Morrisons said this year will also see it create 1,000 jobs in its M local convenience stores and an additional 3,000 in new supermarkets.

It said it will look to relocate staff to these businesses where possible.