Local Economy
Since the 1980s Wigston's retail economy has become increasingly dependent on national retailers. Up to 50% of retail in the town belongs to supermarkets and chain stores. The share of local business has, naturally, caused local and independent businesses to close. This followed the trend of the 1990s homogenisation of British high streets.
McDonalds, Sainsbury's, Boots the Chemist, Co-Op, Tesco, Iceland, Superdrug, Farmfoods, Aldi, B&Q, Wetherspoons, Subway, Greggs sandwich shops, Coombs bakery, and Ladbrookes all hold businesses in the town centre or near-by.
MacFisheries' MacMarkets was the town's major supermarket for many years. One particular unit in the town centre became a branch of International Stores in the late 1970s and was later successively a Gateway Foodmarket, Solo (a Gateway Foodmarket re-brand), Kwik Save, Somerfield, then Kwik Save and Somerfield again, before becoming vacant for quite some time. This unit has recently re-opened as a branch of Wilkinson which has relocated from elsewhere in the town.
Sainsbury's in the centre of the town, which opened in 1980, stands on the site of Bell Street Primary School. The town's Tesco store, on Blaby Road in neighbouring South Wigston, was opened in 2002.
There are also a number of independent stores including several charity shops, two car dealerships, hair and beauty salons, opticians, florists, fish and chip shop, fish sellers, newsagents, and public houses.
There is a concentration of companies on the industrial estate located on Chartwell Drive including the Cromwell Tools World Distribution Centre and Delifrance.
Read more about this topic: Wigston Magna
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