Jobs boost in Batley as B&M Bargains prepare to open at historic mill site

Discount retailer B&M Bargains will create 40 new jobs when it opens on the historic Blakeridge Mill site just outside the town centre.

And a long-established Batley business - Mullaco Ltd - will follow close behind with plans for an Asian supermarket.

Mullaco, based in nearby Wellington Street, will open its third supermarket at Blakeridge Mill. A fourth, on a site yet to be confirmed, will open in Heckmondwike early in 2021.

Across the two new stores Mullaco, a family business founded in Batley in 1973, will employ 25 more staff. The company currently employs 36 and has plans to open seven stores in total.

Blakeridge Mill, the site of a giant textile mill of the same name, will have 36,000 sq ft of retail space, along with 152 car parking spaces.

The retail units have been divided into six with B&M as the anchor tenant. It is understood no deals have yet been signed for the remaining four units.

B&M confirmed its new store and garden centre will open on Wednesday January 20. Mullaco will follow in February.

A spokesman for B&M said the store and garden centre would create 40 jobs and would open its doors at 9am.

The spokesman added: “We’re feeling really positive about the creation of more jobs for local people during these difficult times and we hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store. We are all really excited to get the doors open.”

Mullaco director Mr Imran Maniyar said his plans had been delayed by the pandemic but the opening was likely in February.

He said the firm, which has a major meat cutting and supply plant and a cash and carry operation, had been looking for a supermarket site in Batley and Blakeridge suited its needs perfectly.

He added: “We are opening a proper Asian supermarket selling meat, Asian spices and fresh fruit and vegetables, serving the whole community.

“We have just opened a new store in Bradford and this will be our third. We are planning to open seven in total.”