Michelle entertains customers at Asda Maesteg with songs, smiles and jokes

Customers say Michelle Forte from our Maesteg supermarket is a ray of sunshine who's always entertaining our customers with her songs, smiles and jokes.

And Michelle – who has been shortlisted as Colleague of the Year at the Proud To Be Asda awards – goes out of her way to help anyone who needs it, including shopping for vulnerable customers and those who couldn’t leave their homes during the pandemic.

Michelle, who's 38 and has worked at the store for ten years, said: "I'm just happy in my job. I like to sing to dance and often prank the customers by jumping out on them! They can probably hear me before they can see me! I've lived in the area all my life and know a lot of the customers. I try to be smiley all the time – it's just my nature ... happy and loud!

"I'm honoured to have been nominated for an award but to be honest I've not done anything that anyone else hasn't done. Everyone has helped out in the pandemic here, it's such a small community.

During the lockdowns, Michelle helped to get fresh produce for a local charity called Special Families which helps and supports families of children with additional needs in the Maesteg area.

Donna Richards, the store's service section leader, says Michelle's nomination is richly deserved.

She said: "Michelle is such a bubbly and fun person. She's so helpful and nothing is too much trouble.

"She gets on well with customers and colleagues here and she's often singing and dancing by the checkouts. As we are only a small store, she knows our customers outside of the store too."

Find out more about the Proud To Be Asda Awards 2021 here: https://www.asda.com/proud-to-be-asda-awards