Chief Minister opens new Isle of Man Enterprises stand alone Iceland Store in Ramsey and Hails Partnership between Public and Private Sector Chief Minister Allan Bell, MHK, yesterday opened a new 4,000 sq ft Iceland store in The St Paul’s Square Shopping Centre in Ramsey. The development comes as part of a programme by Isle of Man Enterprises plc, which includes Shoprite, Shoprite Living and the Subway franchise, to grow the Iceland brand on the Isle of Man. The store will replace the existing Shoprite branded unit. The Iceland brand is one of the UK’s leading value food retailers and Isle of Man Enterprises has had a trading relationship with the company since 1996. Iceland was named the UK’s leading discount retailer at the prestigious Retail Industry Awards in 2010. The trading partnership includes access to all of the Iceland brand’s value frozen, grocery, chill and fresh product range. The new store is the first part of a significant six figure regeneration programme planned for Ramsey by the company that will improve the retail experience for customers in the North of the Island as well as generating jobs in the North of the Island. Andrew Thomas, Chief Executive, Isle of Man Enterprises commented: “We are looking to improve our customer’s shopping experience in Ramsey by clearly segmenting the two stores that we operate. The Iceland brand is hugely popular in the UK as a convenience and value chain while Shoprite will stock more premium items while still providing customers with value for money as well. We believe that this is a significant step in upgrading Ramsey’s retail experience and represents a major investment in the North of the Island by Isle of Man Enterprises.” He continued: “We are looking at a comprehensive retail redevelopment programme which, as we are a Manx domiciled company, will provide greater direct benefits to the Manx economy. It also shows that Manx retailers can compete effectively.” Chief Minister Allan Bell commented: “It is heartening to see an Isle of Man company making such a strong commitment to the North of the Island and this new store is an excellent representation of the partnership between the public and private sectors that is essential to drive regeneration in our towns and stimulate economic growth in the Isle of Man. It is a confident statement and shows that Manx retailers can compete effectively. As a local MHK I’m also delighted to see that all the St Paul’s units are now occupied.” ENDS