Iceland to open first store in the Falklands

Supermarket Iceland is opening its first branch in the Falkland Islands, according to boss Lord Richard Walker.

He said the store would be opening in December, adding on LinkedIn it would be the the first UK high street brand to open there.

The shop will be in the capital Stanley where it will serve a population of about 3,500.

Lord Walker said the Welsh business, based in Deeside, in Flintshire, was growing internationally and he wanted to expand it further.

"We actually wholesale or franchise to over 75 different countries," he said.

"And we've had our eye on the Falkland Islands for quite a long time. We think it's a very underserved market, with a lack of competition, and, of course, being that our product is predominantly frozen, it transports and exports very well."

The said the timing was coincincidental "given the geopolitics", Lord Walker said.

Argentine president Javier Milei recently claimed the islands - referred to as Las Malvinas by Argentina - were "historically and legally" Argentinian.

The Stanley store would be in partnership with Kelper Stores, part of the Fortuna group.

Lord Walker said he would be visting the island to cut the ribbon and open the supermarket.

"We estimate that prices will be almost 30% lower than other competitors on the island," he said.

"And I think that's really going to bring some much needed value to the market."