Three supermarkets to CLOSE and be turned into Tesco stores after more than 75 years

AN independent supermarket chain with a 75-year history on the high street will see its name vanish from three villages for good as it inks a deal to offload the locations to Tesco. Proudfoot supermarket will now only serve customers from one remaining branch after it sold sites in Newby, Seamer and Manham Hill to the major supermarket chain. Proudfoot supermarkets has sold three of its stores to Tesco Credit: Unknown The small grocery business, which has had a presence in the North Yorkshire area since 1948, said customers will have up until the new year to shop at the stores before they are taken over. The Seamer and Manham Hill stores will reopen as Tesco Express stores in October, with the Newby store reopening as a Tesco Superstore early in the New Year. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Valerie Aston, a director at Proudfoot, said: “We have carefully considered this decision and we believe these stores will continue to flourish, offering market leading services to the local communities they serve.” But the news has left locals in the area upset, with one describing the news as “devastating”. In a heartfelt post they said: “I can hardly believe it !!! Proudies will be so missed by the Seamer Community & surrounding village.” While another heartbroken local said: “This is so sad! Seamer will not be the same.” And a third cried: “Gutted about this . What an impact on Newby it will have such a shame.” The chain, which is known for its in-store deli and butchers, will operate from one remaining store in Eastfield. Most read in Money Andy Sanderson, Tesco’s retail director for convenience in the North, said it was “supporting colleagues” and working closely with the Proudfoot team as it prepared to open the new stores later this year. Comment now