IPSWICH has its first Waitrose supermarket after the new store in the ground floor of the Corn Exchange opened its doors to the public.

The “Little Waitrose” carries a range of convenience foods and basic groceries – and soon attracted a number of curious shoppers.

And the small store is just the start of the company’s involvement in Ipswich – within a few weeks work is due to start on a huge Waitrose/John Lewis At Home superstore on Ransomes Way.

The store was opened by Ipswich mayor John Le Grys and MP Ben Gummer.

Mr Gummer said: “This is very important for Ipswich. It is an important store in its own right and it is in a very important location – it fits in well with the Corn Exchange.

“But even more than that it shows how the town centre is evolving and it will show to people from outside the town just how much Ipswich is changing. It is a symbol for the changing town centre. It might persuade some of those from outside the town who don’t think there’s much for them here to come and give Ipswich a look!”

The store is open 7am to 9pm Mondays to Saturdays and from 9am to 8pm on Sundays – it is small enough to fall under the restrictions of the Sunday Trading Act.

There are 42 members of staff – or partners as they are described by the company because they all have a shareholding in the business.

Two of these have transferred from other Waitrose stores, but the rest have been recruited locally.