77 queue from 4.30am as new Food Warehouse officially opens in Ballymena

(All photographs: Ewan Harkness)

A brand-new The Food Warehouse store has officially opened in Ballymena, with 77 eager shoppers already waiting in line before the doors opened on Tuesday morning.

The much-anticipated new store, located at Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena, Antrim, BT42 3AG, welcomed its first customers on Tuesday 14 April, marking a major retail expansion for the town and delivering 23 additional jobs for the local community.

In scenes that underlined the level of anticipation surrounding the opening, customers began arriving well before sunrise, with some joining the queue from 4.30am to be among the first through the doors.

Early morning queues and opening day excitement

The official launch saw strong turnout from local shoppers, with 77 people lined up ahead of opening.

To mark the occasion, the retailer handed out £1,500 worth of vouchers to the first 150 customers in the queue, adding to the buzz around the new store’s arrival.

Raffle tickets were also distributed to everyone in the line before 7.45am, leading to a series of opening-day prize giveaways.

Among the winners, seven lucky customers received Tower Air Fryers, while one additional shopper took home a Daewoo Double Drawer Air Fryer.

A further five customers were selected for one of the morning’s biggest attractions — a 90-second supermarket sweep-style trolley dash, giving them the chance to fill their trolleys for free.

Shoppers queuing from 4.30am

Lisa Henry, Store Manager at The Food Warehouse, Braidwater Retail Park, said the response from local shoppers had been exceptional.

She said:

“We’re so pleased to welcome shoppers to our brand new The Food Warehouse store. Everyone was so excited for the grand opening – people started queuing from 4:30am!

“If you haven’t been down yet, make sure to check out our brand-new store and get your hands on some unmissable deals!”

The early turnout reflects strong local interest in the new warehouse-style store, which expands Iceland’s presence in Ballymena beyond its existing High Street location.

Exclusive opening week offers now live

To celebrate the launch, the store is running a week of exclusive promotions from 14 April to 20 April.

Customers visiting during opening week can take advantage of a range of discounted deals across groceries and household essentials, including:

• Pepsi Max Cans (24 pack) – £7.00, reduced from £12

• Cushelle Toilet Tissue (32 pack) – £12.50, reduced from £17

• McVitie’s Biscuits Family Pack – £2.00, reduced from £3.00

• Surf (100 washes) – £7.50, reduced from £12

• Thompson’s Punjana Tea Bags (440 pack) – £7.00, reduced from £9.25

• White Rock Water (18 pack) – £3.00, reduced from £4.15

• Cadbury’s Multipack Chocolate Bars (7 pack) – £2.00 each, reduced from £3.20

The offers are expected to draw continued footfall to the retail park throughout the week.

Bigger store, bigger deals

Kristian Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at Iceland Foods, said the opening will give more Ballymena residents access to the retailer’s wider range and bulk-buy offers.

He said:

“We’re thrilled to have opened our new Ballymena store, ensuring even more local residents can get their hands on amazing deals, alongside a brilliant range of frozen, grocery and fresh foods.”

The new store includes a range of ongoing multi-buy promotions, including:

• 5 for £5

• 2 for £8

• 3 for £10

• 10 for £10

It also stocks exclusive The Food Warehouse ranges, including Slimming World, Cathedral City and TGI Friday’s products.

Customers can also access additional promotions and savings through the Iceland Bonus Club app.

Opening hours and jobs

The Ballymena store will operate:

• Monday to Saturday: 8am to 9pm

• Sunday: 1pm to 6pm

The launch has also delivered 23 new local jobs, adding to the economic boost for the area.

Anyone interested in applying for a role at the new store can find details through Iceland’s careers website.

For Ballymena, the strong opening day turnout — with shoppers arriving before dawn and prize winners leaving with free groceries and air fryers — signals a lively start for one of the town’s newest major retail additions.

At a glance:

• New The Food Warehouse has officially opened in Ballymena

• 77 customers were waiting in line before doors opened

• Shoppers began queuing from 4.30am

• Store opening created 23 new jobs

• £1,500 in vouchers handed to first 150 customers

• Five shoppers won 90-second trolley dashes

• Eight air fryers given away in opening-day prizes

• Exclusive launch deals running 14–20 April

• Store located at Braidwater Retail Park, BT42 3AG