More retail jobs as new superstore spices up the high street

2 December 2008

A Retail entrepreneur is launching one of Yorkshire’s largest Asian and continental supermarkets, creating more than 20 new jobs

Dewsbury shopkeeper Salim Mullah 48, his younger brother Ayub and son Ahmed are opening Mullaco Dewsbury Supermarket, Saville Town, after winning backing from Yorkshire Bank.

New jobs are being created for cashiers, shelf stackers and general shop workers after Mr Mullah, who opened his first cornershop in the town 27 years ago, acquired the site of a former Kwik Save with backing from Yorkshire Bank’s Leeds Financial Solutions Centre (FSC).

Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry and a wide range of traditional Asian and continental foods and spices will be available at Mullaco Dewsbury Supermarket which will have 10,000 sq ft of retail space, an adjoining warehouse and parking for up to 96 cars.

After opening his first corner shop, Mr Mullah later expanded into a bigger shop and then into a 2,500 sq ft convenience store, employing 15 staff, which he will run in tandem with the new supermarket which he says is the pinnacle of his ambitions.

He says: “Our new store has been planned for two years while we sought a suitable location and, when the former Kwik Save site became available, we were ready to make our move.

“The range of stock we hold and our knowledge of our goods, combined with  competitive pricing, has helped us to grow a large following and 70 per cent of our regular shoppers are from outside Dewsbury with many travelling from as far as Hull, York and Rotherham.

“We’ve been with Yorkshire Bank as we’ve continued to grow the business through the last 25 years and they have always been enthusiastic about us. They’ve always understood what we want and why and have now supported us with this latest venture.”

Yorkshire Bank Leeds FSC business partner, Nick Wyrrill, who arranged funding for the new Mullaco supermarket, says: “Like Mr Mullah, we are very much open for business and ready to support successful trading companies such as his latest expansion.

“These may be tough times on the high street but Mr Mullah and his family know their products and have built up a loyal customer following. I’m confident that their new venture will be a tremendous success.”

Yorkshire Bank’s Leeds FSC includes more than 106 corporate, commercial and private banking specialists.