4 minute read
Dalys’ new IGA store, Koroit
NATIONAL VICTORIA
In May 1918, Michael Daly and his family relocated from the gold mining town Berringa, south of Ballarat, where he operated a grocery store, to Koroit in southwest Victoria and began trading as M. Daly & Sons from a grand Victorian building at 150 Commercial Road. Fast forward to 2021 and five generations later, his great grandsons, their families, and their team, have worked for four years to plan and execute the brand-new Daly’s IGA Koroit.
On planning the store, local demographics was researched, together with viewing various stores across the country and speaking to other retailers to enhance ideas. The original store continued to trade whilst the new store was being built. Daly’s decided with the store over 100 years old and extended several times throughout its history, renovating and extending, while to continuing to trade would be complex - a new store was the best solution. The new 2000 square metre supermarket is positioned directly next door. This allowed for continued trade in the old supermarket during construction work and a direct ‘overnight’ swap to the new store when completed. Located in a small regional country town, it was important the Koroit community still had a supermarket during construction.
Daly’s are impacting the Koroit economy, employing 82 staff in the new store compared with 26 staff previously. This increase of 56 employees is a significant in a small regional town with a population of around 2000.
The former supermarket forms part of stage two of development. The original sandstone front facade will be retained, and four retail tenancies will open to the supermarket’s arcade. With the population in Koroit, growing, these spaces will be a valuable addition for the community.
Daly’s set out to make a point of difference to other supermarkets in the region; Coles, Woolworths & Aldi are 15 minutes away in Warrnambool. The old store small had a limited range and their challenge was to convert customers shopping at Daly’s for a ‘top-up’ to carry out their full shop.
There is a full wall of retail space along the front wall of the building. Clear glass windows allow shoppers to see straight into the fresh food departments from the main street - putting the new offer on full display. The new departments have ended up larger than initially planned!
Daly’s IGA have established new branding, ‘Daly’s Fresh Marketplace’. The new logo features on the front of the building and carries across onto packaging of the fresh lines produced in-store, which includes juice, popcorn, cut cheeses, meat (in-store butcher), and deli. This branding will carry across to their Portland & Heywood stores when refurbished. The team was conscious of the design choices, giving consideration and attention to detail of the practical side of operating the store in the future. Details such as stainless-steel wall sheeting and corner trims, floor trench drains to cool rooms and ovens, bollards and wall protection, vinyl wall sheeting etc. were incorporated. While some details could be seen as unnecessary or overkill, investing in these details at the start provides improved productivity within food prep spaces, easier and quicker to clean and reduces repairs and maintenance going forward.
The increased focus on sustainability in the grocery industry provided several options for Daly’s to consider. Several refrigeration solutions were reviewed, with them deciding on a cascade plant system including air con and heat reclaim and glass doors to meat and dairy. Provision for future potential solar connection, an energy efficient lighting design, double glazing, thermal doors and airlocks and additional insulation exceeding requirements. Polished concrete flooring reduces cleaning and has lower ongoing maintenance costs. A UPS and a 550 kVA generator have been installed to enable uninterrupted trading with full power, including refrigeration during mains power outages. Within three months of trading, this has helped the store on two occasions allowing them to continue trading during power outages.
IGA stores focus on local and this was no different for Daly’s when constructing their store. A local builder (Hearn Constructions) was engaged and where possible, local trades and suppliers were used through the build and fit out process.
COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions impacted the build; however Daly’s were fortunate the extensive planning meant much equipment was already confirmed and on order. The COVID-19 situation progressing and causing global shipping and delivery chaos throughout the build, Daly’s decided to obtain as much equipment and fit out as early as possible. Fortunately, everything required was sourced on time (for the most part). A delay on freezer cases, on order for 12 months, delayed the planned opening by two weeks but thankfully 32 doors of freezers were fitted days before the opening.
Celebrations, with a soft store open, were had on 24 November 2021.
Independent Retailer congratulations the Daly family and team, and everyone involved. The legacy bestowed upon this generation of Daly’s, has been greatly honored by their spectacular new IGA Koroit store. Well done!
NATIONALNATIONAL
