Coles to open first ‘Local’ convenience store in South Perth

Coles is promising Perth locals the State’s best quality artisanal products as the supermarket giant prepares to expand its network of convenience stores catering to local appetites in WA.

The grocery chain announced on Thursday it would open its first WA Coles Local small supermarket format in South Perth’s Angelo Street in November.

The WA flagship store will carry products from 45 local suppliers including Mary Street Bakery, meal delivery service hail the kale and deli meat supplier The Farm House Margaret River.

Coles Local, which first launched in 2018 in Victoria, is about half the size of a traditional full-service supermarket and carries about 3000 products from local suppliers.

Store development general manager Jon Haggett said one of the key pillars of Coles Local was to deliver a full-basket shop for customers as opposed to just a “top-up” shop.

“Our promise would also be that not only can you get these amazing artisanal, very locally-based product ranges but you can also get all of your usual family favourites,” Mr Haggett said.

“I’ve gone through various phases of recession and clearly our customers are challenged more than ever in terms of weekly budgets so it’s incredibly important that Coles Local continue to offer amazing value.”

Coles Local has 16 stores across Australia, all in the eastern seaboard, including Brighton, Victoria, Birkenhead Point, NSW, and in the Brisbane CBD.

“We’re very confident that it will get the same reaction in WA (as the eastern seaboard) because we’ve focused very hard on who the local WA customer is and what they love in supermarkets,” Mr Haggett said.

He said they had plans to expand in WA beyond the first store but acknowledged it was crucial not to get ahead of themselves.

“If you go too quickly without understanding the offer and how customers are reacting to the offer then that can get you into trouble,” he said.

The company will re-fit the existing regular Coles store on Angelo Street for the new Coles Local.