A BRAND new Aldi store has opened its doors to customers this week, helped by an Olympian.

The new store opened on Thursday 30 at 8 am with Team GB bronze medallist Christopher Langridge cutting the red ribbon accompanied by children from the local primary school.

Christopher also gave away bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to the first 30 customers in the queue before delivering an assembly for the pupils at Bersted Green as part of the supermarket’s initiative Get Set to Eat Fresh.

The Argus: Olympian Christopher Langridge and pupils from Bersted Green Primary School.Olympian Christopher Langridge and pupils from Bersted Green Primary School.

The Team GB badminton player said: “I’ve had a fantastic time opening the new Aldi store here in Bognor Regis. 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 Bersted Green Primary School about the importance of eating healthily and how it can be fun to plan and prepare meals as a family. Hopefully I’ve also managed to inspire the pupils to keep active and try different sports.

The Saltbox Road store is the first Aldi to open in and around Bognor, and will be run by store manager Dan LeBas along with a team of 40 colleagues from the community.

The store offered the pupils the opportunity to win a £20 gift voucher to spend at the new store. Children were tasked with creating a poster to show what healthy eating means to them. Christopher announced the winners, Sienna and Eloise, aged 4, during the assembly.

The Argus: Christopher Langridge and Aldi store manager Dan LeBas with other employees.Christopher Langridge and Aldi store manager Dan LeBas with other employees.

Store manager Dan said: “It’s been a wonderful morning here at the opening of Aldi Bognor Regis.

"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 Bersted Green Primary School through our partnership with Team GB.”

The new store offers large chillers and freezers dedicated to fresh, British meat products, a food to go section at the front of the store, and an exclusive section full of health and beauty products.

Bognor customers can also take a walk down the "Aisle of Aldi", where they will find specialbuys which are available every Thursday and Sunday.

The Argus: Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening, with children from Bersted Green Primary School, Aldi Area Manager Rebecca Siddle, Bognor Regis Deputy Mayor, Cllr John Barrett, store manager Dan LeBas, Deputy Mayor's consort Carole Barrett, and GB athlete Christopher LangridgeCutting the ribbon at the grand opening, with children from Bersted Green Primary School, Aldi Area Manager Rebecca Siddle, Bognor Regis Deputy Mayor, Cllr John Barrett, store manager Dan LeBas, Deputy Mayor's consort Carole Barrett, and GB athlete Christopher Langridge

Additionally, the new Aldi is calling on local charities and food banks in Bognor to register with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform that links businesses to charitable organisations in the local community.

The new store is located at Unit 4 Saltbox Road, Saltbox Business Park, Bognor Regis, PO22 9FP and will be open Monday - Saturday: 8am – 10pm and on Sunday: 10am – 4pm.

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