The store contains fresh food-to-go as well as major brands such as Starbucks and Chicago Town pizzas. It also meets the ‘food for later’ needs of customers with a range of ambient, chilled and frozen products.
There are multiple self-service cashless tills to reduce queuing and the ESS App ensures loyalty rewards come as standard. The store replaces an old shop that was no longer fit for purpose.
Mark Webster, managing director ESS Defence, Offshore & Remote, commented: “ESS community stores are purpose led and each one is uniquely designed to meet the needs of the location and customers.
“We have developed this offer over two years in partnership with the DIO and MOD, so we’re pleased our first store has now launched and we’re looking forward to evolving the offer and strengthening our relationships based on feedback.”
The shop is called ‘Maisie’s’ in honour of Sir Donald Gosling’s mother. Sir Donald joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and later went on to found NCP car parks.
Cdr Kara Chadwick MBE RN, commander logistics at RNAS Yeovilton, added: “The new Yeovilton Community Store is a great facility to have on station for those who work here, but particularly for those who also live here.
“It has a greatly improved range of products, which I know the ESS team will keep under review so that the products sold are the products people want to buy. The layout also makes for a much better shopping experience – the team who set it up have done a great job.”