The Food Warehouse set to open new Ballymena store by spring 2026

The Food Warehouse store set to open in Ballymena

Ballymena is set to welcome a major new retail arrival, with The Food Warehouse, part of the Iceland Food Group, preparing to open its newest Northern Ireland store in the town.

The Ballymena outlet will be the fifth Food Warehouse location in Northern Ireland, joining existing stores in Newtownabbey, Belfast, Craigavon and Banbridge.

Love Ballymena understands the store is expected to open its doors before the end of March 2026.

The new store is planned for the former Poundland unit at Braid Retail Park, following the submission of a planning application in recent weeks seeking approval for a series of external alterations.

Proposed elevations for the new Food Warehouse store in Ballymena.

According to the application, the proposed works include the removal of the existing canopy and shopfront, alongside the installation of a full-height shopfront with bi-parting entrance doors and three new aluminium shopfronts.

Plans also include the creation of a plant cage or compound and a dedicated bin store, while confirming there will be no change to existing parking arrangements at the retail park.

The development is expected to bring new employment opportunities to the area. The planning application estimates that Iceland intends to employ around 10 full-time and 30 part-time staff, with an anticipated total workforce within the store of approximately 25 employees.

Proposed floor plan for the new Food Warehouse store in Ballymena.

The arrival of The Food Warehouse is being viewed as a positive boost for both Braidwater Retail Park and Ballymena town centre, continuing a period of renewed retail investment locally.

Recent additions include the newly built Primark store at Fairhill Shopping Centre and a new Home Bargains store on Queen Street.

Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena

Braidwater Retail Park is owned by Magmel Ltd, a Ballymena-based property development and investment company directed by Ryan Walker.

Mr Walker also acquired Fairhill Shopping Centre in August 2021, and more recently confirmed the purchase of Riverside Retail Park in Coleraine in a landmark £30 million deal in December 2025.

Magmel Ltd director, Ryan Walker, pictured outside Fairhill Shopping Centre following its acquisition in 2021.

In outlining its ethos, The Food Warehouse says it aims to support customers by making shopping simpler and more affordable.

“Understanding how complex life can be, The Food Warehouse is here to ‘Make life that little bit easier’,” the company states.

Formed in 2014, The Food Warehouse is described as one of the fastest growing British supermarkets, operating as part of the wider Iceland Foods Group. The retailer focuses on bigger pack options of well-known brands, allowing customers and local businesses to stock up while saving money.

The chain is also known for its exclusive brand partnerships, offering products from familiar UK names including Slimming World, Greggs, TGI’s and Chiquito’s.

The company adds:

“Shopping with The Food Warehouse couldn’t be easier! With our super spacious aisles and full store visibility you will find food shopping easy and pleasant.”

Inside: The Food Warehouse

It continues:

“What makes us different is our super simple store layouts with wider and fewer aisles so that shopping doesn’t have to be stressful. We carefully select the products you love so shopping doesn’t have to take hours but still offer you the products you want at the best prices.”

Beyond groceries, shoppers can also expect homeware and seasonal specials, with the retailer highlighting its limited-time offers:

“And don’t forget, we have incredible deals on homeware and seasonal specials too, so always keep an eye out for those big deals, because when it’s gone, it’s gone!”

The Food Warehouse forms part of a much larger retail group. Iceland Foods was founded in 1970 by Malcolm Walker and now operates over 800 Iceland stores, alongside more than 150 Food Warehouse outlets across the UK.

The Ballymena opening is likely to be particularly welcome news for local consumers, many of whom have faced rising food and household costs during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The addition of a value-focused retailer offering bulk-buy savings is expected to provide greater choice and affordability for families and businesses alike.

As preparations continue, anticipation is building that The Food Warehouse will soon become another key fixture in Ballymena’s evolving retail landscape.