Buddhist monks wished prosperity and good luck on a new supermarket opening in Nottingham. The three monks, who came to the city from Loughborough, performed an hour-long ceremony, with chants and prayers, to bless Zaap Thai Market.
The store is just around the corner from Zaap's Thai restaurant in Bromley Place and is its first to open in the UK. Food from Thailand, including fresh fruit and vegetables and frozen goods are stocked, plus food to go and bubble tea.
While its customary for a ribbon to be cut to celebrate a new shop opening in the UK, it's traditional for Thai businesses to be blessed by monks. Invited guests were splashed with holy water and one of the monks drew an ancient script with his finger on the window of the shop, which used to be Lifestyle Express convenience store in Upper Parliament Street.
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The new shops sells many items not available in other supermarkets such as pickled sweetened mustard greens and Thai coconut rolls as well as everyday big brand basics such as Heinz tomato ketchup, SPAM, Sun-Pat peanut butter, Andrex toilet roll, Silver Spoon sugar and Starbucks Frappuccino.
Groceries include fish, meat, dumplings and Thai fishcakes, found in the freezer section. There's fresh fruit and vegetables, rice, noodles, ramen, tinned fruit, savoury snacks, sweet treats and drinks.
Asian kitchen utensils are also on sale. Customers can tuck into food from the grab and go menu. Steamed buns with fillings such as red pork and minced pork and prawn are on the menu. Skewers of fish, chicken and pork balls and dumplings with pork and prawn are other options.
Something sweet? Chinese pastries with sweetened beans and squash bring something different to the table. And to wash it down is bubble tea, including milk, fruit and fizzy varieties. Thai beverages are also sold, such as watermelon fruit shake, longan drink, and bua loy (sweet coconut milk).
Shop manager Pris Charvong said: "It's traditional Thai culture that before we begin our business we should invite monks over to give the blessings to the special occasion and to the place and to give us a good start.
"Most Thai people are Buddhists and we believe that when open a new business there are some of the spirits who used to be there before so we can start together and not just like come in and take over. The ceremony is like a blessing to living people and the spirits and dead people so everyone can grow together.
"This is Zaap's first market to open. The Thai restaurant is very successful and we have up to seven branches across the country so the owner had the idea of having the market. Initially some of the restaurants used to have a small section as a Thai market - it was very successful. Many Thai and Asian people are asking for more, like fresh fruit coming over from Thailand.
"We have good food, good bubble tea and good service and have fun so people enjoy their experience in the restaurant so at this market we would like to bring another side of the restaurant but you can do it yourself at home. The fresh fruit and vegetables, imported from Thailand and coming every week on Tuesday, will be our highlight. Anything you can't find around the East Midlands I would say you can come over here - this is the only one."
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