Hard discounter Lidl is hoping to open its most northerly UK store in the Orkneys by next February.
The retailer held a public meeting in Kirkwall in a bid to drum up support for the proposed store in the town.
Gordon Greens, a Lidl sales executive, told interested parties that “we tend to work hand in hand with local businesses, bringing a lot more foot traffic to the areas”. A number of Lidl executives were on hand to explain the proposals for the store, which is likely to be opened next door to the existing Somerfield.
A member of the public present at the meeting said Lidl was giving the project a hard sell.
A spokesman for the retailer said: “The event went very well and there was a great deal of support for our proposals. We collected more than 700 signatures of support from the local community.”
The scheme must now go through the normal planning process for approval.