TRANSFORMING Urmston Market into a thriving new build foodhall to rival Altrincham is the first job on Kay Johnson’s ‘to do list’ in her new position as project manager for The McGoff Group.

The construction and development company has appointed Altrincham’s Kay Johnson to the specially created role of project manager for its exciting new £3.5million Market 41.

Kay’s new role will see her steer The Group’s innovative new build food hall from construction through to operation, as well as handling enquiries from possible operators and assisting with recruitment and training.

She will be heavily involved in the selection of the new operators and the employee team and helping everyone settle in.

Once the foodhall opens, she will help nurture operations at Market 41, ensuring that traders and the new staff members have everything that they need to deliver a first-class customer experience that becomes a real talking point in the town.

Prior to taking on the new challenge, Kay spent five years creating and developing an industry leading hospitality offering for New Care, the care home operation that forms one of the McGoff Group’s other businesses.

She was directly responsible for developing a hotel-style hospitality and service offering at six successful care homes across the UK before moving to this new role.

Kay said: “I’m delighted to go back to my roots in hospitality and service with these new projects. Trafford is an area that I know well, and where I have spent much of my career, and I am passionate about delivering something that locals can be proud of.”

The McGoff Group aims to create the same food and drink-led resurgence that nearby Altrincham has experienced.

The proposed development will feature a diverse blend of food and drink operators positioned around an informal central seating area.

McGoff Group boss Chris McGoff said: “We really have invested significantly in M41 as it will be the first and pioneering new build food market hall in the North West, with Urmston the perfect location for the development.”

The McGoff group took over the Railway Road site last year.

If all goes to plan the new facilities would be open by late autumn.