Bunnings takes over old Masters Home Improvement site at Adelaide Airport
Bunnings is set to open a new store next year – on the same site once occupied by its failed Woolworths-backed competitor Masters.
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Hardware giant Bunnings will take over the former Adelaide Airport site of failed competitor Masters.
The Wesfarmers-owned company confirmed to The Advertiser it would open a store on Sir Donald Bradman Drive in the warehouse once occupied by Woolworths-backed Masters Home Improvement.
Work has begun on a $15 million redevelopment of the site, opposite Ikea, with the new 13,000sq m shop set to open mid next year.
It was expected to create 50 construction jobs during the build and 180 staff positions once it opened.
Adelaide Airport property executive general manager James Sangster welcomed the addition of Bunnings to the airport’s business stable.
“Bunnings’ presence will create more retail jobs at the airport on top of those already being created by (the airport) as part of the expansion of our main terminal,” Mr Sangster said.
“This news supports our vision set out within our current master plan to be a major economic generator for South Australia and providing further employment opportunities across a range of industry sectors.”
Bunnings acting property general manager Garry James said the new store was a “significant investment” for the hardware retailer.
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Masters – which was first set up in 2011 – closed all of its stores in December 2016 after incurring losses of more than $3.2 billion over seven years.
It had two South Australian outlets, at Adelaide Airport and Mt Gambier, and two were under construction at Parafield and Noarlunga.
The ACCC is currently investigating Bunnings’ takeover of family-owned business Adelaide Tools for being potentially anti-competitive.
Bunnings last month agreed to purchase Adelaide Tools – started in 1949 – from Rob and Marissa Peach for an undisclosed price.
The merger is subject to regulatory approval.
Adelaide Tools is headquartered at Mile End and has stores in St Marys, Pooraka, Lonsdale and Gawler, as well as Oaklands Mower Centre at Somerton Park.
The ACCC will look into what factors would sway a customer to buy from Adelaide Tools over Bunnings or vice versa.
Local tradies and tool suppliers are able to make submissions to the investigation until Thursday, November 21, via the ACCC website.
The largest Bunnings Warehouse in South Australia — more than 17,000 square metres — officially opened in Edwardstown in April.
The $45 million South Rd store employs more than 160 staff and features an indoor timber trade sales area with a five-lane drive-through, kitchen and bathroom displays, a children’s playground and a cafe.
Customers also have the opportunity to learn new skills at a range of hands-on D.I.Y. Workshops on site for adults and children.