Sainsbury’s will be the operator of a 72,000 sq ft supermarket to be built as part of the Spurs stadium project, creating 250 jobs.

The retailer’s chief executive, Justin King, joined Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to announce the deal this afternoon – which comes two weeks after the Northumberland Development Project was approved by Haringey Council.

The supermarket is part of the first phase of the development and is due to open late next year. The club said today that it had put “dedicated support” in place to make sure jobs go to local people.

Mr Levy said: “We are delighted that Sainsbury’s will become the supermarket provider in the Northumberland Development Project. This will be one of the largest supermarkets of its kind in London and will help bring a greater vibrancy and attract new trade to the area.

“Both ourselves and Sainsbury's are proud of our roots in Tottenham and are committed to working to deliver major regeneration in an area with such a real need.”

Sainsbury's has been trading in the area since the 1980s and after last August’s riots sent senior store manager Kay Horne to work with traders and community organisations as part of a scheme run by the Prince of Wales’ charity, Business in the Community.

Mr King said: “Our investment represents a real boost for Tottenham, bringing both new jobs and an exciting place to shop.

“Sainsbury’s has been trading in Tottenham for over a quarter of a century and we’re proud to invest in the area at this important time.”

The deal has been welcomed by both Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Tottenham Traders Partnership, which said earlier this month that businesses were “desperate” for construction to begin.

The commitment to hiring local people comes after the head of a High Road recruitment firm called for jobs to go to the Tottenham unemployed. The area has the highest unemployment in London.

Construction on the new supermarket and surrounding businesses will begin in September, while the 56,000-seater stadium itself will be completed by 2016.

The stadium will be surrounded by 280 new homes, a new square, public space, including a podium for community events, and the project includes improvements to roads and public transport at White Hart Lane Station and Tottenham Hale Station.

Sainsbury’s also announced that it would open a smaller convenience store in Tottenham High Road in April on the site of a building damaged in last August's riots.