Mint Fresh IGA Local Grocer in Epping NSW, is the latest store to open under the IGA Local Grocer banner in a 400 store rebrand.
Antoine and Richard Rizk, owners of the Epping store, surveyed residents and conducted focus groups to ensure the small-format supermarket stocks products that the locals want.
Richard Rizk said being independently owned, they listened to the needs of the community and that is reflected throughout the store.
“From our products, fit out, and all the way through to our staff members. It’s our promise to stock everyday products at competitive prices, a range of locally sourced goods and remain an important part of the local community by offering the best in customer service that only a local owner can provide. We’ve even chosen not to install self-service checkouts so that we can truly get to know our local shoppers.”
The Mint Fresh IGA Local Grocer stocks grocery items as well as meals-to-go, fresh cut cheese, in store made salads and bakery items, liquor and more. It also has a large Asian offering as requested by locals, including frozen products, grocery items and a massive focus on fresh produce.
No two IGA Local Grocer stores are the same and have been individually curated to suit the wants and needs of their local shoppers.
Danielle Jenkinson, General Manager Retail Metcash Food, which owns IGA, said IGA’s Local Grocer offering has the needs of local communities at its core.
“It’s these stores, run by locals, for locals that really know their shoppers, offering a relevant range tailored for shoppers who buy as they need.
“Shopper research and insights have been used to inform the new format IGA Local Grocer via surveys undertaken with 5,000 households and data analysed from over 2.8 million Australian shopping trips.
Jenkinson said that these insights, as well as the additional data that the Rizks have gathered, have been used to develop this new highly personalised store and will offer the community with the right range, promotions, and experiences to cater to even more shoppers.
A Metcash spokesperson told C&I they believed the rebranding to be the biggest brand rollout in Australia this year.
“We’re excited for Australians to see what’s on offer with their local independent retailer in this new, compact IGA Local Grocer format. New stores will open under the banner, because they are far more than a convenience store, IGA Xpress stores will change names to better reflect the role this small supermarket plays in local communities across Australia.”
The decision to rebrand was driven by the need to develop even more highly personalised stores.
“We’re taking IGA’s tailored offer one step further by providing the community with the right range, promotions, and experiences to cater to even more shoppers. The name also better reflects what this small format supermarket is – a full supermarket offer, run for locals, by locals,” said the spokesperson.
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