Store of the week: Waitrose Pontprennau

How long have you been store manager? I started working as branch manager here in May last year. But funnily enough I also opened the store as department manager back in 2008. In between, I have worked as a store manager in Barry and Cowbridge.

What do you enjoy about the job? I’ve always had a passion for shopkeeping. I’d put developing partners and new talent at the top. You can keep developing by moving into new roles at different stores.

Who typically shops at the store and when does it get really busy? The demographic is quite mixed. People come from outside the city to shop here. We also have offices nearby - including Barclaycard - so peak trading is around lunchtime.

What’s working well at the moment in store? It is consistent with the rest of the estate. MyWaitrose is now a massive brand and coffee is huge for us. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were one of the biggest cafés in Cardiff. We also just had a great Mother’s Day - we had the best selection ever. We had a really co-ordinated range and a lot of new products.

What is new in the store? A recent addition is outdoor horticulture. It really feels like a garden centre and it’s manned, which helps us build relationships with customers. We offer to take plants to the car and supply boot liners.

Are there any major changes planned for the store? We’re in the preliminary planning stages of planning for a new welcome desk, due in August. It will make the entrance to the store much more akin to a hotel than a supermarket. We’ll offer dry cleaning and flower arranging. We’ll also re-align checkouts - putting in more self-service tills and quick pay.

What did you make of the bonus this year? Partners were really happy with it. I’ve spent mine already - on a John Lewis kitchen!