Freshly-baked croissants, a cheese bar, gourmet pet food and more. See what’s in store when Portside Wharf IGA goes up-market.
A northside Brisbane IGA is the latest of the supermarket chain’s outlets to target well-heeled customers, offering fresh-baked treats, gourmet takeaway, a cafe and more pet food for owners of designer doggies.
The Portside Wharf supermarket is expanding its floor area by one-third ahead of the precinct getting its 11th luxury high-rise.
The expanded store will offer a wider range of top-quality pet foods to cater for the large number of Portside unit owners with designer pets.
Its gourmet takeaway range will also be expanded to offer an alternative to the eateries in the precinct, which has about 35 retailers including well-regarded a Dendy cinema, Mediterranean restaurant Byblos, Sono Japanese Restaurant and a Max Brenner Chocolate Bar.
The changes are part of a nationwide shift by IGA, which lifted sales growth 5.6 per cent in 2020 after years of declining product sales as Covid-19 changed buying habits.
In March last year a Sydney IGA opened with a wood-fired in-house pizza offering, sushi bar and walk-in cheese room.
The median unit price in Hamilton is about $515,000, apartments along Wharf St routinely change hands for well over $1 million.
Brothers Robin and Ramsay Zeneldin, who established the Portside Wharf supermarket in 2014, said it would grow by about 30 per cent to 1036 sqm with a renewed focus on convenience food, takeaway meals, health and wellbeing products.
As well as expanded meat, produce and delicatessen offerings, there will also be a new cafe, cheese bar and health food section.
Robin Zeneldin said the advent of an eleventh high-rise meant it was the right time to expand.
“In the past seven years, we have seen significant growth in the area, while at the same time
consumers are becoming more discerning, particularly when it comes to wellness,’’ he said.
“That’s why we’re extending the footprint of our store with a broader range of groceries than ever before across every category.”
That would include hard-to-find grocery items.
“We will also be featuring more gourmet and takeaway offerings in the deli, to complement the existing variety of sandwiches, rolls, salads, burgers and hot food – all made fresh daily.
“A growing number of people in the area have pets, so we’ll also be expanding our pet food
section.”
Mr Zeneldin said the new cafe would have freshly-baked items such as muffins and croissants.
“It’s the missing link in our store now. People visit for rolls, sandwiches and breakfast so we’re looking forward to adding the new cafe to ensure we are a one-stop-shop,” he said.
The new fit-out is expected to start in April and be completed mid-year. The store will remain open in that time.
Brookfield Residential Properties is building the new high-rise, on a prime Brisbane River site near the cruise ship terminal.
Extracted from Goldcoast Bulletin
