New era for Fort William as M&S opens its remotest mainland food hall

Sam Nugent is bracing himself - with good reason.

 

Because today, the manager of Marks & Spencer's newest food hall is getting reading for one of the biggest days in his near decade-long career with the retailer.

 

As the manager of M&S's newest food hall, in Fort William, he will be at the forefront of the razzamatazz surrounding the official opening of the food hall on the town's North Road.

 

Over the summer and autum, Fort William residents watched closely as the food hall took shape. There's certainly will not another M&S food hall, or store for that matter, with a more stunningly picturesque setting than this newest branch, lying as it does in the shadow of Ben Nevis.

 

There's a wide range of food, a 'Click & Collect' service, an in-store bakery and a café.

 

The new food hall will have the accolade of being the world famous company's remotest on the UK mainland but Sam is not daunted by being handed such a challenge by company bosses.

 

He told the Lochaber Times the excitement and energy around the town is overwhelming.

 

'Everyone I have met since moving up in September has asked about when the new M&S will be open. Those questions end today and people from Fort William and across Lochaber will be able to start shopping in their own M&S,' said Sam, who now lives in Corpach.

 

The food hall will be officially opened today at 10am by a secret special guest and Sam was not giving anything away about who that might be.

 

'That will be a surprise for everyone and it will all be part of the excitement of opening day,' said Sam, who started out nine years ago with the company as a temporary Christmas staff member.

 

'This is second store I will have managed, but my first store opening as a manger, so it is really exciting,' he added.

 

'It is going to be fantastic. Fort William will be the remotest foodhall in the M&S family and we're sure it is going to prove to be something special.

 

'Having a presence in Fort William has been on our radar for a long time and very much part of the M&S plan to offer its services to as wide a part of the UK as possible.

 

'This will make a massive difference to all those who already like to shop with M&S and for those who have never experienced shopping with M&S in person, I can assure them that the run up to Christmas really is the right time to experience that. There will be nothing like it.'