A new Sav-Mor Foods supermarket opened shortly before 7 a.m. today at 1595 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy.

No ceremony was involved in the opening of the store, part of an eight-store "value-priced" subsidiary of the Ingles chain.

About 40 employees have been been hired for what Johnny Carland, Sav-Mor's district manager, said is "a full line grocery store," though it is not as large as a typical Ingles supermarket.

Though the building is not new, it appeared shiningly bright and attractive at 7 a.m., with all of its shelves having been fully stocked.

Mark Hensley is the store's manager.

Todd Reidy, an Ingles executive, spoke highly of Jack Bernard, the new store's veteran meat department manager, who has transferred here.

Reidy said, "We only sell U.S.D.A. choice beef."

Carland was asked why the company didn't have an opening ceremony.

"The store will speak for itself," he replied.

A veteran grocery executive, Carland was obviously pleased by the store's inviting appearance and that of the recently hired employees, who were wearing attractive uniforms.

Three residents of the nearby Plaza Towers facility -- Anna Green, Barbara Strange and Beatrice Muniz -- who had been waiting outside the store for it to open, sounded especially pleased.

Muniz said, "We don't have a car. All we have to do is walk," from Plaza Towers to the Sav-Mor, about a block away.

The Sav-Mor, which is behind the Long John Silver's Seafood Shoppe along E. Andrew Johnson Highway, will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Its telephone number is 638-5780

Ingles has more than 200 supermarkets in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.