When fresh groceries are set to hit Cairns’ shelves

After a days of bare fresh produce shelves reprieve is on the way for shoppers as supermarkets delivers an update on flights, trucks and barges headed north. When fresh fruit and veg will hit shelves>>

Woolworths stores across Cairns have been left bare from the transport delays. Photo: Dylan Nicholson

After a days of bare fresh produce shelves reprieve is on the way for shoppers as supermarkets delivers an update on flights, trucks and barges headed north.

Coles Supermarkets delivered a fresh update on Saturday advising as roads were reopening into Cairns they had fresh food deliveries hitting Cairns supermarkets now.

“Approximately 180 pallets of stock will arrive in Cairns stores this morning, including fresh produce and meat,” A spokesman said.

“While the situation could change with more rain, we are working to get as many deliveries through as we can.”

Coles advised that there were not just trucks on the way to deliver the much needed groceries.

“Coles has had pallets of food and essentials flown in on emergency flights organised by the Queensland Government,” the spokesman said.

The Super IGA on Pease St remained well stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables and fresh meat. Photo: Dylan Nicholson

“Another flight is scheduled for today, bringing in an additional 22 pallets of food, including fresh produce into Cairns.

“We also have approximately 200 pallets of stock en route by barge scheduled to arrive in Cairns including meat, fresh produce and groceries on Monday.”

Coles Queensland Regional Manager, Brad Stewart, said “We are thinking of everyone in our community impacted by these devastating floods.

“We want to reassure everyone that our teams are working tirelessly to keep stock moving into our stores.

Coles fresh and refrigerated produce shelves were left empty on Monday. Photo: Facebook

“We are exploring every possible option to get deliveries into Cairns, whether by road, air or sea.

“More than 200 pallets of stock are arriving in Coles stores today by road and airfreight, and we have more pallets on the way by barge.

“We thank our truck drivers, store team members, supply and transport teams as well as local authorities for working together to get food to our communities.

“While stock continues to be limited we ask customers to only buy what they need so that everyone in the community can access essential items.”

On Friday evening a Woolworths spokesman said throughout the week their number one priority has been on getting groceries to where they’re most needed across northern Queensland.

“Whether that’s meant having trucks poised at the edge of floodwaters to cross the moment they recede, or airlifting stock into communities,” they said.

Coles vs IGA fruit and vegetable stock. Photos: Facebook

“Our biggest challenge continues to be flooded roads – we had a brief window earlier in the week where waters receded and allowed us to get trucks into Cairns, however access has closed up again.

“We will continue to have truckloads of groceries on standby at road closure points to take advantage of any openings along the Bruce Highway and inland routes as soon as they appear.

“We’re continuing to airlift supplies into Ingham thanks to the support of the ADF chinook helicopters and have been able to bring in small volumes by land via a temporary bridge being operated by the ADF.

“We thank our teams in Far North communities who have now been working for over a week to keep the doors open for our customers in particularly challenging circumstances.”

Originally published as When fresh groceries are set to hit Cairns’ shelves