New food and pharmacy hub opens

A £2.1m food store and pharmacy in Hykeham has welcomed people inside for the first time today.

The newly-built Lincolnshire Co-op outlet on Newark Road has created 15 new jobs. Inside there’s a range of services including an instore bakery, takeaway Costa Coffee and hot food-to-go, meal options, goods from the Society’s Love Local range and chilled beers and wines.

It’s also home to a pharmacy and podiatry service, which was further along Newark Road.

The move means there’s now a more accessible private consultation room and a bigger dispensary, to help the team care for people’s health and wellbeing. The whole site is served by a 21-space car park.

Some of the first customers were Rod and Maureen Timmis (below) from North Hykeham. Today is a special day for the couple - they’re celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary.

They met each other in 1965 while working for Lincolnshire Co-op in its former shoe department in Silver Street in the city.  

When they realised the Hykeham store’s opening coincided with their anniversary, they decided to share it with the team.

Store Manager Adam Waddingham presented them with flowers and a bottle of bubbly and members of the store team gathered to congratulate them.

There’s more celebrations to come for the outlet with an official opening due next week with speeches and charity donations.

The new store on Newark Road joins Lincolnshire Co-op’s food store, post office and pharmacy at the Hykeham Green Shopping Centre on the junction of Moor Lane and Lincoln Road.