A SUPERMARKET giant is moving into the site of a former Aldi store, as major chains compete for south Essex domination.

Farmfoods will welcome customers for the first time on Friday at their new Eastern Avenue site in Southend - which is the former home of Aldi.

With Aldi moving just 300 metres away to Priory Crescent in September, the site was left vacant and has stood empty ever since.

It comes after Lidl and Aldi announced plans to open a combined 14 new shops across south Essex, including in Basildon, Canvey, Leigh, Rayleigh, Rochford/Hockley, Shoebury and Stanford-Le-Hope/Corringham.

Applauding the move, Kevin Robinson, councillor for business, culture and tourism in Southend, said he will be happy to see the site back in use.

The latest addition is set to join a list of other Farmfoods across south Essex, including their store at the Greyhound Trading Estate and their shop in Pitsea.

Mr Robinson said: “Having worked at Lidl for five or six years and having also worked at Waitrose, I know how cut throat retail can be and has always been.

“But through all the problems going on throughout the pandemic, the need for food has been constant.

“So there’s clearly a demand for them to be opening this store.

“I used to use the Farmfoods on Sutton Road and I remember how busy they were then.

“Opening a new store will make sure units are being used for their proper purpose, and it also brings the benefits of jobs to the area.”

From Monday to Friday the store is set to open from 8am until 10pm, with shorter opening hours at weekends.

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Mr Robinson, added: “Farmfoods have always been competitive with their pricing, and with the other cheaper supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi we’re definitely not going to starve.”

John Budge, from Thorpe Bay, also welcomed the news - but fears there are already a lot of supermarkets in the area.

The 78-year-old said: “We have got an awful lot of food shops in the area, there are already enough as it is and there is the worry smaller corner shops will suffer because of it.

“That being said it is really good that it’s not just being turned into housing and will be used for retail.”

A spokesperson from Farmfoods, said: "I can confirm our new shop in Southend on Eastern Avenue will open this Friday at 8am.

"The shop will be our second in the town in addition to our existing site at the Greyhound retail park.

"We look forward to welcoming new and existing Farmfoods customers alike from Friday morning."