Last night at 9pm, the first two Shoprite stores closed for the final time ahead of their transformation to Tesco.
Shoprite’s flagship store at Victoria Road, Douglas and Castletown’s ‘Little Shoprite’ served the final customers as staff were clearing shelves.
Shoprite announced the shock news in October last year, that they had sold out to the UK supermarket giant and that all nine of their stores will become Tesco or Tesco Express stores.
Substantial change for Robinsons
One of the biggest losers in the Tesco deal was local fruit and veg supplier Robinsons.
This transition signifies a substantial change for our family-run business, given our enduring partnership with Shoprite spanning over 50 years.
Managing Director of Robinsons, Janna Horsthuis
Horsthuis continued, “Nevertheless, our commitment to promoting locally-grown produce for the island’s residents remains unwavering. We firmly believe that supporting the Manx economy is paramount, benefiting numerous local businesses in addition to our own.
“To that end, we will continue to expand our offerings of Manx produce through our stores and through our delivery and click-and-collect services. It’s our hope that more locally-sourced food finds its way to homes, restaurants, cafes, and government catering sites across the Isle of Man.”
Robinsons acquire Ross Bakery
Despite the devastating news, it was only a few weeks later that Robinsons had announced it had acquired Ross Bakery.
Ross Bakery had been on the market for some time and Robinsons announced they would be building a new bakery to open in early 2024.
Meanwhile the remaining Shoprite stores continue trade. Tesco say they hope to have all remaining Shoprite stores rebranded within nine months.
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