Andover’s newest supermarket is aiming to open its doors on January 20 as the work to fit out the store nears completion.

Co-op branding is being put up on the exterior of the building in Picket Twenty, while work to complete the interior is also well underway, with shelving and refrigeration units already installed. Access to phone and data services is still taking place in the building.

The store also now has opening times on the Southern Co-op website, with customers able to visit between 7:00 and 23:00 every day of the week, with a dedicated shopping hour for key workers and the vulnerable between 9:30 and 10:30 Monday to Saturday.

A spokesperson for Southern Co-op said: “We're working hard to open our store in Picket Twenty as soon as possible and currently hope this will be Wednesday 20 January. There are still works taking place including access to phone and data network services but the store is really coming together.

“The store will include a large selection of regional products in our Local Flavours range as well as takeaway coffee and food, both manned and self scan checkouts, Amazon lockers and a myHermes parcel service. We look forward to welcoming members and customers very soon.”

The store has been in the pipeline for many years, featuring in plans for the initial Picket Twenty estate. Since then, Southern Co-op was announced as the operator of the store in 2018, with planning permission to construct the store granted in the same year.

The unit stood empty for some time as an anticipated 2020 opening came and went, after a further delay pushed the opening back into 2021.

Works to finish access to the site were completed in December after Persimmon Homes, the developers of the Picket Twenty estate, faced delays in sourcing the blocks to finish the road outside the shop.

Contractors were able to access the site, however, with work beginning at the end of December to make the shop ready for its opening.

The store has opened after a branch on Charlton Road closed at the end of November after the terms of a new lease couldn’t be agreed.

Stock from the store was donated to good causes, including Andover Foodbank, YMCA Nursery and Augusta Park Community Centre after staff decided to “end on a positive note.”