An independent Costcutter retailer has opened a new store in Doncaster ahead of schedule, in order to support the local community during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kopi Kalanathan, who also owns a Costcutter store at Station Retail Park in Kirk Sandal, opened his new 2,600 sq ft store on Tadcaster Road last Thursday (9 April).

Kopi has introduced a range of new measures to facilitate social distancing and protect shoppers’ safety in both stores, including external hand-washing stations and a one-way system ensuring clear signage and floor stickers help shoppers keep a safe distance apart.

Kopi and his team are also offering free delivery for the vulnerable and NHS workers across both stores, as well as offering nurses, ambulance staff and police officers free coffee, breakfast and lunch.

He will also be reserving essential stock for local nursing homes to ensure elderly residents can place orders for vital items.

The new store offers a wide range of everyday items, as well as a slush station, vape store, Payzone and self-service checkouts.

Kopi said: “Now more than ever, I want to support our local community to ensure they have everything they need at this challenging time. This is why we have introduced services such as home delivery and brought forward the opening of our new Tadcaster Road store.

“There are some finishing touches we will complete after this crisis, such as installing the new fascia, but I’m proud the shop fitting team worked quickly and safely to help us open, so that shoppers have local access to the essential items they need.

“The measures we have introduced across stores are designed to help keep our staff and shoppers safe, as well as supporting those that aren’t able to visit in person or are busy delivering critical services for our community.”

During the widespread flooding in Yorkshire last November, Kopi introduced a free delivery service to customers within three miles of his Kirk Sandal store.