OPPONENTS of the new International Supermarket in South Woodford have been branded “fools” by shoppers who regularly use its popular sister store in Walthamstow.

Hundreds of people rely on the Walthamstow High Street branch to do their weekly shopping - with several travelling long distances to take advantage of its low priced fruit and veg, fresh bread and wide range of ethnic goods.

Many of the store’s loyal customers were shocked to read in last week’s Guardian about the strong opposition to the opening of a new outlet in George Lane - with more than 1,000 critics signing a Facebook petition against it.

Lily Argent, who regularly visits the Walthamstow branch, questioned the attitude of shoppers in South Woodford.

She said: “I'd say the people in South Woodford are silly fools. Don't they want to save money?

“It’s always crowded.”

Shoppers praised the shop for it wide variety of produce, particularly its range of exotic fruits and foriegn brand names, which are not easy to find in the major supermarkets.

One shopper, who did not want to be named, said: “I do my shopping here because I’m Greek and I find a lot of things from my country here.”

“They cater for everyone, this is a shop for all cultures,” added Donna Georgiou of Selsdon Road. “It’s the best for fresh food, their pastries are wonderful, and the staff are so nice.”

A 46-year-old online blogger from Walthamstow called technomist wrote on his webpage: “I am willing to bet that the people of South Woodford will be very happy once they get used to paying reasonable prices for a better and more interesting range of products which currently sell for top money in their locality.“

Ray Martin of Brighton Avenue, Walthamstow, said: “It's cheap, good quality stuff and you get things you can't get elsewhere like Turkish coffee and honeys.

“It expands your interest in food. If they don't mind charity shops [in South Woodford] that are half empty and full of junk, then why mind this?”

In an interview with the Guardian last week, the International Supermarket’s owner Mehmet Oztas said: "My supermarket in Walthamstow makes me so much money. It's been very successful.

"The people in South Woodford can pay me £1million if they want me to go - and I will. I can put a box outside the shop and they can each put £5 in when they walk past.

"But I know people here and they like me."