IGA’s revamp

THE Michael’s Supa IGA stores in Leongatha and Korumburra are undergoing major renovations to provide customers with an even higher standard of service and products than before.
Owner and operator Michael Lorenz said the retailer was embarking on another multi-million dollar redevelopment in Leongatha, the second such revamp in the last 10 years.
Craig Marinus, who is assistant team leader at IGA in Leongatha, said the store would get a new delicatessen section and bakery. The fruit and vegetable and meat departments would be revamped as well as the front part of the store and the liquor section.
“Things will be shifting around a bit for a while, but everything will be back in its place eventually and we’re asking customers to be understanding. Once the job’s finished the store will be much better than it was.”
The Korumburra store will receive a similar treatment with major sections to be upgraded, including the liquor store.
Michael’s IGA owner and operator Michael Lorenz said he was investing in the redevelopments “to deliver a fresher offer, to expand the lines available and make every customer visit the best possible experience.
“Many areas will be in for a revamp,” Mr Lorenz said. “The stores will put on a new face to serve the local community for the coming years and bring us back to the forefront of grocery retailing in Australia.
“We will be moving products within the store and we’re asking customers to please be patient and ask for assistance from any of our staff if they can’t find what they want.
“Also, please note that the public conveniences inside the Leongatha store will be closed, while undergoing a major refit. The new facility will open as soon as the area is completed.”
Believed to cost more than $2 million, the Leongatha renovations are extensive. They include a major expansion of fresh foods and a reformatting of the whole fresh foods department, with exciting new offerings that currently are not offered in the area.
“At Michael’s IGA we are committed to stocking as many Australian products as we can and support the Fight Back campaign to let customers know of the damage that imported products do to our farmers and local manufacturers,” Mr Lorenz said.
New shopping trolleys have been ordered and a better trolley bay is being constructed in-store for customer convenience.
A new customer service community notice area is being incorporated into the development. Some new services will be offered to enable customers and supporting organisations to get their message across.
The outside of the store will be upgraded. A new entry area will be developed to provide more comfortable weather proofing of the store. An entry/air lock section will provide a better environment, particularly near the registers, as well as a warmer place for community groups to meet during community day fundraising events.
The renovations will also improve the store’s environmental impact through improved plant and equipment, air-conditioning and lighting.
“We actively manage our carbon footprint and are undertaking every step we can to lessen our impact on the planet,” Mr Lorenz said. “Currently our recycling programs take care of the vast majority of our waste, much going to local farmers for feed, or returned to Amcor for recycling.
The renovations are scheduled for completion before Christmas.

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Posted by Chris Brown on Sep 15 2009. Filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry