400 apply for 15 jobs at new Tesco Express
Almost 400 people applied for just 15 jobs at a new Tesco store opening in Staffordshire this month, bosses have revealed.
The new Tesco Express store is being built on the A34 Stafford Road in Huntington, in Cannock, and is due to open on August 20.
An average of 26 people applied for each of the 15 jobs up for grabs at the store, it has emerged.
A total of 60 interviews were carried out, with all staff recruited from within the Staffordshire area.
Store manager, Trudi Ball said: "I was thrilled by the response we received to our recruitment drive.
There were so many great applicants which made the decision very tough when it came to selecting the successful 15.
"My new team and I are looking forward to offering shoppers a clean, bright and spacious new store with fast and friendly service.
"We want to make this very much a local store for local people."
The new store will be open seven days a week from 6am to 11pm and includes a cash machine, self-service tills, a bakery and free customer parking.
It will also order a click and collect service where customers can order online or by phone and collect their shopping in store.
Planning permission for the new store was sought 16 months ago but sparked some complaints from residents living nearby.
They were concerned the new shop would cause congestion outside their homes.
Others said the convenience store was not needed because of its close proximity to Cannock town centre.
But council chiefs said it would provide closer shops for residents and create new jobs.
In April the supermarket giant revealed it had 830 sites in its development pipeline across the UK.
The vast majority will be smaller Tesco Express stores, of which some 150 will open over the next year - a rate of one every two-and-a-half days.
The company already has 1,500 Express stores across the country.
Tesco has continued to increase the number of its stores in the West Midlands in recent years. The latest to open was the 80,000sq ft store in Victoria Street, Hednesford, in December, creating 300 jobs.
Work began in March on a new Tesco store in Rugeley, due to open on September 30. The 40,000 sq ft supermarket on the former Celcon factory was given planning permission more than two years ago but had to wait while Tesco chains in Stafford and Hednesford were completed.
