Dagenham charity opens Barking discount store

A discount store opened at the Barking site formerly home to Asda on Saturday.

Dagenham-based community charity The Osborne Partnership officially unveiled the 43,000sq m B&M store alongside Barking and Dagenham Mayor Cllr Simon Bremner in Vicarage Field Shopping Centre.

The partnership helps socially and economically disadvantaged residents, focusing on supporting people who have learning or physical disabilities, metal health issues or other complex needs.

The new store manager, Himi Majevadia, said: “The Osborne Partnership really stood out for us as they really go the extra mile for the community, we wanted to give them some VIP treatment as a thank you for all the hard work they do.

“We hope that our donation can help them to continue the great work they do.”

Customers who visited the store got the chance to meet Minion characters Stuart and Bob and get their faces painted while they shopped.

Asda left the site at the end of August before opening a larger store 200m away in Short Blue Place just days later.

Another discount retailer, Poundland, also unveiled a new store in Chadwell Heath’s High Road, seven days before.

The move forms part of the company’s 99p conversion following a buy-out last year.