Mount Gambier Foodland ‘no longer part of the network’, branding stripped from supermarket

After months of ongoing issues, Mount Gambier’s Foodland store has been cut from the supermarket’s network.

Foodland has confirmed it is no longer associated with the Mount Gambier store. PICTURE: Jessica Dempster

A once bustling Mount Gambier supermarket has had its branding stripped by its affiliated retailer, with locals saying the decision was “unsurprising” and a “long time coming”.

South Australian staple Foodland has confirmed its store in Mount Gambier Central is no longer part of the company’s supermarket network, with the store’s signage set to be removed in the coming week.

A Foodland spokesperson said: “Foodland were made aware of a series of quality concerns at the Mount Gambier store late last year and have been working directly with the store for some time to address these issues as a matter of priority.

“Unfortunately, no resolution was possible, and this store is no longer part of the Foodland Supermarket network.”

The spokesperson did not otherwise specify why the supermarket had lost its branding.

This news follows months of dissatisfaction from the Mount Gambier community regarding the store’s ongoing lack of stock and other issues including allegations of low quality or even expired products being found on the shelves.

The Mount Gambier Foodland first opened in 2017 to much support and acclaim from the community.

It was a popular destination at first but over the recent years the shop has struggled to satisfy customers.

Since opening, the store has changed hands twice, with most recent and current owners holding a grand reopening in June 2023.

Under the new ownership complaints have hit social media about poorly stocked shelves and few staff members to manage the supermarket.

One Facebook review posted in December read “giving Foodland a terrible name, shelves are bare, freezers full of products covered in frost, fruit and veg not fresh, appalling.”

A more recent one posted at the start of March said there was barely anything in the store.

“Couldn’t find anything I wanted; shelves bare and very little selection, ended up shopping elsewhere,” the review said.

In February 2024, the shop shared photos of their fully stocked shelves on their Facebook page and asked locals to come in and support the business.

A Foodland spokesperson said the company has been working with the store for some time address various issues but no resolution was achieved. PICTURE: Facebook

The same month the store’s owner told the SE Voice he felt the business was treated as a convenience store, rather than a supermarket and pleaded for the community to get behind the store.

He said there was at a “catch-22” in keeping shelves fully stocked: if they weren’t properly stocked people would complain, but if they were fully stocked people still wouldn’t come in and buy the products.

The Foodland spokesperson said the store’s Foodland signage would be removed next week.

“Foodland Supermarkets prides itself on delivering the freshest quality produce across its network and values the feedback that it receives from the community,” the spokesperson said.

The Advertiser has sought comment from the supermarket management.