Grape Tree - the national health and wellbeing chain - has opened its first store at a shopping centre in Lowestoft.

Works had started internally on an empty unit at the Britten Centre last month, as posters advertising new jobs were installed on the vacant shopfront.

And the doors to the budget health and wellness retailer's first store in Lowestoft have now been opened.

Grape Tree has opened a new store in Lowestoft. Image: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It becomes one of more than 190 stores operating across England, Wales and Scotland selling natural foods, nuts, dried fruits, snacks, proteins and vitamins.

Having provided 'feel good food' for more than a decade, Grape Tree was founded in 2013 by Nick Shutts and Nigel Morris after the closure of their previous health store chain, Julian Graves.

Focusing on healthy, natural, and specialised foods, the organic health foods retailer had recently targeted more than £100 million in revenue after completing one of the largest Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) deals that had been seen in the UK.

It saw Grape Tree selling a majority stake in its business to its 955-strong workforce.

With this the health foods retailer had earmarked plans to open another 20 stores this year, with the business expected to create a further 150 jobs as part of the expansion.

And now this new investment has hit Lowestoft - with locals now able to sample some of the highest quality wellness foods around with "feel good foods" on offer at Grape Tree..

Positions for a store manager and sales assistants roles had been offered for the new store in Lowestoft, with locals encouraged to become "part of the Grape Tree Team in this location".

© Eastern Daily Press