MARKS & Spencer will be creating 70 new jobs in Swindon when they open a new Simply Food store at the Mannington Retail Park early in January.

The 9,000 sq ft Simply Food store will offer customers more than 4,500 quality food and drink lines, including fresh produce, meats and a deli, along with beers, wines and spirits. A selection of cards, fresh flowers and gift wrap will also be available.

The new store, which will open on Wednesday January 15, will include a 48-seat Café where customers can enjoy Fairtrade hot drinks, a selection of sandwiches and snacks, as well as making use of the free WiFi. A new in-store Bakery will offer a range of speciality breads and delicious pastries and cakes, freshly baked on site each day.

In addition, the store will offer the popular Shop Your Way service, giving customers the choice of ordering from the M&S catalogue in-store or online, with the added benefit of free next day in-store delivery and collection.

Store Manager, Chris Hughes, said: “We are delighted to be opening up in Swindon, which will provide local customers with a fantastic M&S food and drink offer, as well as a bakery and café.

“I think they’ll be thrilled by what we have in store and can’t wait for them to see it when we open in the New Year.”

Paul Briggs, the chief executive of the Thames Valley Chamber Trade Commerce group, which includes Swindon, Oxford and Reading, was delighted with the news.

“Too many times we hear of people losing their jobs just before Christmas and the bad news that brings with it, “ he said.

“ But this is really great news just in time for Christmas and makes up a little for the jobs which went at the Menzies hotel last week.

“I am pleased that Marks & Spencer have shown how much confidence they have in Swindon and I am sure that things are gradually getting back to normal on the economic front.

“I am hoping that 2014 is going to be a much better year for everyone.”