by Alan Quick
The new store will incorporate retail selling space, warehouse and support office facilities. The company says the project is currently running to schedule and on target for the planned Autumn opening.
Mole Avon’s board of directors visited the site recently to review progress and had a guided tour of the internal and external space.
The building is now fully water tight and the concrete floor is in place, windows are currently being installed and partition walls are to be constructed within the next few days.
External ground works are progressing well and preparation for final finish is on schedule, which will see the completion of Phase Two of the project.
John Lee, chairman of the board of directors, Mole Avon Trading Limited, said: “It was fitting that the board of directors could visit the site today, together with the Mayor and Town Clerk of Crediton Town Council to see the significant progress made by our contractors, and to hear from our managing director on how the new store layout has been designed to serve and support our customers better.
“Our site visit followed a regular board meeting where approval was given to a number of schemes across the company to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint and lead to a significant saving on running costs.”
Mike Haines, managing director, added: “This is Mole Avon’s biggest venture to-date having in recent years invested in the refurbishment of our stores in Axminster and Okehampton and it’s great that now, with this site at Wellparks, we are continuing the journey that will deliver a solid platform on which to support our sustained growth.”
He added: “We are firmly committed to helping boost the local economy by creating new jobs, by working with local suppliers in the construction of the new store and by holding fast to our core commitment of serving our traditional farmer base whilst increasing the breadth of the products and services we offer the wider community. It’s great news to see how much progress has been made in recent weeks.”
The new store will incorporate a range of dedicated sections including clothing, farm shop, homeware, home and gifts, agricultural, footwear, equestrian, pet and bedding, animal medicines, a cafe and small garden centre and much more.
The company has been on its Mill Street site since the early 1970’s and has been eager to move to a suitable local site that enables it to serve its traditional farmer base alongside the wider community. The business will trade as normal from the Mill Street location until the new store is completed.