Popular Oriental-inspired superstore Wing Yip is set to get even bigger due to demand for authentic pan-Asian cuisine.

The supermarket, based in Purley has officially cut the first ‘sod’, to start work on the £15m expansion, which will create space for a cold warehouse, entrance lobby, extended shop floor and additional parking as it expands by 34,000 square feet.

The sod was cut by owner and founder, Mr Woon Wing Yip and staff from Manchester, Birmingham and London stores.

London store director Albert Yip said: “It is a real privilege to be able to officially get the ball rolling on the new extension to our Croydon superstore.

“As the nation’s appetite for more adventurous foods continues to develop, so too must our range. While 20 years ago we specialised in Chinese groceries, we have seen the market grow along with consumer tastes – no doubt fuelled by the upsurge in long haul travel to exotic Far Eastern destinations.

“Established Chinese sauces such as sweet and sour and black bean remain as popular as ever, but these days shopping trolleys are far more likely to include authentic products from destinations across the Far East, such as sushi rice from Japan, kimchi ingredients from Korea, rendang curry paste from Malaysia, and rice noodles from Thailand.

“The store expansion will give us the opportunity to grow our range, in keeping with the evolving consumer palate.”

The new development work is expected to be completed in 2019, with the store remaining open while improvements are being made.

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