New Food Warehouse store to open in Ballymena with jobs boost, giveaways and launch-week deals

Ballymena shoppers are set to get a major new retail addition next week as The Food Warehouse opens its doors at Braidwater Retail Park on Tuesday 14 April, bringing an expanded range of grocery and household products, a jobs boost for the area, and a series of opening-day giveaways.

The new large-format store, part of Iceland Foods, is expected to create 23 additional jobs for the local community and marks a significant expansion of the retailer’s presence in the town, where an existing Iceland store already operates on the High Street.

Located at Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena, Antrim, BT42 3AG, the new outlet promises what the company describes as an “enhanced shopping experience”, with wider aisles, larger pack sizes and a broader product range than its traditional stores.

Jobs boost and bigger choice for local shoppers

The opening brings fresh employment opportunities to the Ballymena area, with the retailer estimating 23 new roles will be created through the launch.

For local residents, the arrival of the new store means greater access to Iceland’s larger warehouse-style retail format, which was first introduced in 2014.

Typically double the size of standard Iceland stores, The Food Warehouse outlets are designed around bulk buying and bigger-value packs, with spacious layouts and wider shopping aisles.

The move strengthens Iceland’s footprint in Ballymena, giving shoppers the choice of both the established town-centre store and the new retail park location.

£1,500 vouchers for first 150 customers

To mark the launch, the retailer is offering £1,500 worth of vouchers to the first 150 customers in the queue on opening day.

A further major attraction for early risers will be a supermarket sweep-style trolley challenge.

Every customer who is in the queue before 7.30am on opening day will receive a raffle ticket, giving them the chance to win a 90-second free trolley dash, allowing the winner to fill their trolley at no cost.

At 7.45am, additional prize winners will be drawn, including recipients of seven Tower Air Fryers.

A separate in-store competition will also offer a Daewoo Double Drawer Air Fryer to the person who correctly guesses how many sweets are in a jar.

Opening week exclusive offers

For the first week only, customers visiting the new Ballymena store will be able to access a number of exclusive one-off promotions across key grocery and household lines.

The launch-week offers include:

• Pepsi Max Cans (24 pack) – £7.00, reduced from £12.00

• Cushelle Original Toilet Tissue (32 pack) – £12.50, reduced from £17.00

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

• Surf (95 washes) – £7.50, reduced from £10.00

• McVitie’s Value Pack Biscuits (2 pack) – £2.00 each, reduced from £3.00

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

• Cadbury’s Multipack Chocolate Bars (9 or 7 pack) – £2.00 each, reduced from £2.50

The store will also feature a range of ongoing multi-buy promotions, including 5 for £5, 2 for £8, 3 for £10, and 8 for £10 deals.

Iceland: ‘We can’t wait to open our doors’

Kristian Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at Iceland Foods, said the company was looking forward to bringing the new store to the town.

He said: “We’re excited to be opening our new store in Ballymena, bringing more fantastic deals and a brilliant range of frozen, grocery and fresh foods to local shoppers.

“We can’t wait to open our doors and see our customers enjoy the unrivalled variety of products available across the store.”

The Ballymena branch will stock a number of exclusive The Food Warehouse ranges, including products from Slimming World, Cathedral City and TGI Friday’s, alongside a wider selection of fresh, chilled, frozen and branded grocery items.

Extra savings for over-60s

Older shoppers will also be able to benefit from Iceland’s established weekly discount scheme.

Customers aged over 60 can receive a 10% discount every Tuesday across stores.

Further promotions and offers will also be available through the retailer’s Bonus Club app.

Opening hours and applications

The new store will open:

• Monday to Saturday: 8am to 9pm

• Sunday: 1pm to 6pm

Those interested in applying for a role at the new Ballymena branch can find details through Iceland’s careers website.

Part of a major UK retail network

The Ballymena opening forms part of Iceland Foods’ wider UK expansion, with the retailer now operating more than 950 stores nationwide, including approximately 200 Food Warehouse locations.

The company says its larger-format stores are typically based in retail parks and larger shopping districts, with floor spaces ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 square feet.

The retailer also highlighted its wider corporate credentials, including recognition in The Sunday Times Best Place to Work for 2024, alongside previous awards for its online grocery service.

For Ballymena, however, the immediate focus will be on the opening day itself, with early morning queues expected as shoppers look to take advantage of the launch giveaways, discounted offers and prize draws.

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At a glance:

• New The Food Warehouse store opens in Ballymena on Tuesday 14 April

• Located at Braidwater Retail Park, BT42 3AG

• Opening expected to create 23 new local jobs

• £1,500 worth of vouchers for the first 150 customers

• Opening-day prize draw includes a 90-second trolley dash

• Further prizes include seven Tower air fryers

• Exclusive launch-week deals available across groceries and household goods

• Store hours: 8am–9pm Monday to Saturday, 1pm–6pm Sunday