Coles, Lansell Square opens: LIVE

Monday September 22, 2014

    Coles, Lansell Square opens:
    LIVE
    By MADDIE WINES
    Sept. 17, 2014, 7:41 a.m.

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    Jenny Downing and Leah Talbot wait for the new Coles Lansell Square store to open. Picture: JODIE
    DONNELLAN

A NEW Coles store has opened at Lansell Square Shopping Centre,
bringing with it extra jobs.

The new 4000 square metre supermarket is part of an expansion of Lansell
Square Shopping Centre and will employ 120 team members and has
introduced 2000 new product lines.

It includes an on-site bakery, a new gourmet delicatessen, a self-select
cheese bar, an extended seafood selection, a scoop and weigh section for
nuts and dried fruit mixes and an in-store butcher.

The store was officially opened on Wednesday.

Coles Victorian manager Leah Weckert said the company was committed
to investing in the area.

"Coles has a major commitment going, we want to invest in regional areas,"
she said.

Video: LEIGH SHARP and JODIE DONNELLAN

"We have been doing a review of all the stores we have and investing in
certain regional areas.

"Warran Ponds was opened for us in Geelong not so long ago and
was embraced by the community.

"Bendigo is another opportunity for us to bring lots of the new concepts into
the area."

She said the supermarket included a scratch bakery - a decision made on
the back of community feedback.

"We have put in a scratch bakery which makes everything from scratch in-
store, every morning, fresh bread from qualified bakers, which is a first for
any of our stores in Bendigo," she said.

The store has employed an extra 55 staff.

Federal member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said retail was one of the
biggest employers of people in the City of Greater Bendigo.

"Here we have 400 people working for Coles," Ms Chester said at the
opening on Wednesday.

"To have 400 stable part time, full time jobs is really important.

"Not only to the the people who work (at Coles) but to your family and to
our community.

"I congratulate Coles for continuing to invest in our community and
continuing to create those jobs."

Jan Moon, who has worked with Coles since she was 16, said she was
excited to work in the new store.

"It's fabulous, it's bright and open," she said.

"Every chance I have got I have been over (at the new store) sneaking a
peek."

The opening of the store marks the first phase of Lansell Square's $38
million expansion and refurbishment.

Charter Hall development manager Will Green said the opening of Coles
was a milestone for the centre.

"We actively work to provide convenience based shopping for the local
community and are proud to be providing Bendigo with a new full-line Coles
supermarket," he said.

Coles Kangaroo Flat is open from 6am to midnight, seven days a week. It
includes a Liquor Land.

FIND OUT HOW THE OPENING UNFOLDED BELOW:

Update 9am:

Coles is open! People are streaming in! Staff welcoming customers.

Update 8.59am:

Coles about to open the doors.

Update 8.57am:

Two longstanding team members cut the ribbon.

Update 8.56am:

Kangaroo Flat PS choir sings national anthem.

Update 8.55am:

Ms Chesters said the supermarket will service not only people in Bendigo
but Castlemaine.

Kangaroo Flat PS choir.

Update 8.53am:

Federal MP Lisa Chesters said retail is one of Bendigo's biggest
employers. She congratulated Coles on employing 55 new staff.

Update 8.50am:

Coles Victoria manager Leah congratulates the team members on their
efforts setting up the store.

"The special thing about the store is it brings together all the feedback of
the Bendigo community," she said.

Update 8.45am:

Official proceedings underway.

Manager Lloyd Haggar is speaking.

Lloyd Haggar speaks.

Update 8.40am:

Jane Pillar and Sharyn Holmes are at the opening of the new Coles store to
watch their children perform in the choir.

Ms Pillar said she was regularly shopped at Lansell Plaza and said looked
forward to its opening.

Update 8.30am:

Kangaroo Flat resident Judy Groves is hoping to be the first person through
the door of the new Coles store.

"I want to be first, I don't think I will be though," she said.

Ms Groves said the new store was good for Kangaroo Flat.

"We need something decent in Kangaroo Flat. I think it will be great," she
said.

Earlier:

A NEW Coles store at Lansell Plaza Shopping Centre, Kangaroo Flat will
open its doors at 9am today.

The new 4000 square metre supermarket is part of an expansion of Lansell
Square Shopping Centre and will open to the public on September 17, with
the existing store set to closing the evening before.

The store will employ 120 team members and has introduced 2000 new
product lines.

Team member Roland Whiting. Picture: JODIE DONNELLAN

It will include an on-site bakery, a new gourmet delicatessen, a self-select
cheese bar, an extended seafood selection, a scoop and weigh section for
nuts and dried fruit mixes and an in-store butcher.

Coles Kangaroo Flat store manager Lloyd Haggar said he was looking
forward to unveiling the new store and welcoming local shoppers to
experience the modern look and feel of the supermarket.

Coles manager Lloyd Hagger. Picture: JODIE DONNELLAN

"We are really excited to be a part of the new wave of Coles stores
launching around the country and our newly-expanded team is looking
forward to showing customers the new-look store," he said.

FULL STORY: New Coles supermarket at Lansell Square creates 55 new
jobs