The long-awaited Morrisons store in Abergavenny opened this morning to crowds of waiting shoppers keen to have a look around.

Queuing outside the former Cattle Market site on Lion Street before doors opened at 9.30am, hundreds of shoppers turned up for the ribbon-cutting.

The long-drawn plan to bring the store to Abergavenny was first announced in 2004, before the final design was approved in December, 2016, by Monmouthshire County Council.

A host of county and town councillors were in attendance as the doors opened for the first time.

The 25,000sq foot store has also created 250 new jobs, and will also stock more than 300 locally sourced products, reflecting the town’s heritage and status as the food capital of the region.

Some of the suppliers of those products are small foodmakers that have never sold to a supermarket before. Some will deliver direct to the store from as little as seven miles away.

The 25,000 sq. foot store opened yesterday (Wednesday 14th March) creating 250 jobs.

The firm’s search for local suppliers began last October after holding an event to select the winning foodmakers. Local producers were chosen by Morrisons buyers, local residents and members of the Monmouthshire Women’s Institute.

Morrisons also spent time listening to which suppliers and products the town’s residents wanted to see in their new store.

Brooke’s Wye Valley Dairy Company, a producer of artisan ice cream, is one of the store’s new local suppliers and will deliver directly to the store.

Brooke’s is a family business run by Robert and Irene who keep 100 pedigree herd of Jersey cows.  Their ice cream goes from the milking parlour, to the tub in 24 hours.

Stone from the old cattle market on the site has been used in constructing the new building, mainly around the store entrance, as well as the boundary walls.

The main feature of the store is Morrisons famous Market Street which includes, The Butcher and The Fishmonger, The Cake Shop, The Deli, The Pizza, The Oven, and The Bakery where Morrisons trained foodmakers make and prepare fresh food in-store every day.