At 1pm last Wednesday Holsworthy's Somerfield supermarket closed its doors and over the next two weeks will undergo a transformation before reopening as Waitrose at 8.30am on Thursday, June 4.

Seven children from Holsworthy Primary School, chosen because of their achievements in various fields, will cut the ribbon to mark the official opening and will be taken on a tour of the store.

Keen to introduce themselves and to give a taste of what can be expected from the new shop, Waitrose invited the Holsworthy public to the Memorial Hall last Wednesday afternoon to meet the new manager, Nick Harris, and some of the partners who were on hand to answer questions.

Also present were some local suppliers offering a chance to sample their products such as cheese, yogurt, cider, wine, apple juice, chutneys, crisps and fish.

Mr Harris, who comes from Launceston, has been with Waitrose for nine months and has had previous experience with Marks and Spencer. He said the new store would have 120 staff, or partners as they prefer to call them, sharing in the success of the company and receiving bonuses. Somerfield staff had been offered jobs in Holsworthy or would transfer to other shops and 40 new jobs had been created.

There will be a café with seating for 22, serving snacks, which he did not think would adversely affect existing cafes in the town. There will be specialist staff trained in key areas such as wine, meat, fish and cheese.

In answer to local concern about the level of prices in an area where average wages were low, he said Waitrose prices overall would be seven per cent lower than Somerfield's and they would have a range of high quality essentials offering better value.

Shoppers will be able to park in the car park free of charge for up to two hours. The store will be open from 8.30am to 8.00pm on weekdays and from 10.30am to 4.00pm on Sundays.