Former Wales captain Ken Owens cut the ribbon on Tumble‘s new Tesco Express on Friday, as the store opened with 14 new jobs.
The store on Heol y Neuadd opened at 10am and will trade from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week. It also has a cash machine.
Tesco says most of the 14 staff were hired locally.
The jobs come less than three months after the village’s Workies shut its doors after 133 years.
Tumble Tesco stocks Ken Owens’ Sheriff’s Biltong
Ken Owens, known as The Sheriff, captained Wales in the 2023 Six Nations and toured with the British and Irish Lions.
Since retiring, he has co-founded Sheriff’s Biltong with west Wales food producer Ruth Davies.
The dried beef snack is made only with Welsh beef carrying the protected PGI mark, at its own site in west Wales, according to Tesco. Tumble is one of the Tesco stores that sells it.
Tesco says the store will also stock other Welsh products sourced locally, alongside food to go, fresh produce, bakery items and everyday essentials.
Tumble Tesco Express manager Martin Lewis: opening it “means the world to me”
Store manager Martin Lewis has worked for Tesco for three decades and calls himself “a Llanelli lad”.
He said that being able to open the store “means the world to me”.
He said his team was proud to welcome customers and was “excited to become part of the Tumble community”.
Tumble groups can win Tesco grants of up to £1,500
The store is part of Tesco’s Fruit and Veg Grants scheme, which funds local schools and community projects.
Every four months, shoppers vote for one of three local projects. The winner gets up to £1,500, second place up to £1,000 and third place up to £500.
Local groups can apply through the Tesco website (external link, opens in a new tab).
Leftover food will go to local charities and community groups through Tesco’s Community Food Connection scheme, which works with FareShare and Olio.
Tesco opened an Express on Carmarthen Road in Fforestfach in May last year, also with 14 new jobs.
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