A SUPERMARKET giant has celebrated five years since opening its second city store.

Sainsbury's St John's first opened its doors to customers on March 25, 2009 on the site of a former sports centre on Swanpool Walk.

Staff recently held a party to mark the anniversary and yesterday (Tuesday) customers were offered nibbles, while the store was dotted with birthday balloons.

"It's great to mark five years here with colleagues and customers," said the store's produce manager, Patrick O'Connell.

"It's remarkable how quickly the time has gone."

Of the store's 189 current employees, 48 were taken on when the branch first opened.

The store is the second Sainsbury's in the city. The Blackpole branch on Windermere Drive has been trading for almost 35 years.