Our food-store on Beehive Lane is the latest to receive the brand new look, with an extensive refurbishment that included a completely redesigned internal layout. Helping to launch the store, manager of the local Trussell Trust Foodbank, Roy Brackley, joined our President Tony Price and store manager Tatiana Kozomara to cut the ribbon. Beehive Lane Co-op is one of many of our stores collecting for foodbanks and the Chelmsford branch is just up the road, so they were very happy to come along. To share the celebrations, local Co-op members are continuing to receive 10% off their shopping.
Also joining us on the day were representatives from local producers Fairfield Crisps, Warburtons, Water Junkie and Rustler’s Burgers who have a whole new hot food station. Other services in-store include i-Squeeze Orange Juice, Tango Ice Blasts, a wider range of in-store bakery and a full compliment of postal services – including Evri, DPD, Amazon Locker, inPost and more. As part of the refurbishment, one of the sets of external doors were removed and the customer service counter was repositioned and lengthened to incorporate the increase in parcels that the store has been taking in recent months.
You can take a tour of the store HERE.
Our Beehive Lane branch opened on the site in 1956. Chelmsford Foodbank has been based further up Beehive Lane for 12 years now. In the last year they have handed out 7,500 three-day emergency food parcels to people in crisis, each beneficiary specifically referred to them by professional agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureau. Manager Roy said, “Chelmsford is generally an affluent area and many don’t realise how tough some people have it. We don’t want to have to be here, and if we do our job right there will hopefully be a time when we’re no longer needed”.
If you need additional support, and feel a Foodbank may be the answer, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau in the first instance. In Chelmsford this is 0800 144 8848.
