‘Can’t wait to fight you in the aisles on specials day’: Mackay residents react to ALDI’s moves

Excitement is off the charts over news a mega German retailer is planning three North Queensland stores including one in Mackay but not everyone is keen on the idea.

Cartoonist Harry Bruce's take on a new ALDI store penned for Mackay. Today's cartoon has been brought to you by Dawson MP George Christensen. George is a proud supporter of free speech and the ability of our cartoonists to take the mickey out of the political class.

The Mackay Mayor’s goss drop after this week’s budget delivery erupted a flurry of excitement across the region including on morning radio.

Councillor Greg Williamson divulged German mega retailer ALDI had visited Mackay twice over the past six months after reading what ratepayers wanted from the 2021-22 budget handed down on Wednesday.

He joined Jay Shipston and Dave Peters on Triple M Mackay & the Whitsundays’ breakfast show on Thursday to address the buzz, warning Mackay residents to not get too excited.

Triple M breakfast show hosts Jay Shipston and Dave Peters chatted to Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson about the upcoming ALDI store. Picture: Tara Miko

“They’re looking at probably opening Mackay, Townsville and Cairns at the same time,” Cr Williamson said.

“They have a problem in terms of sighting a distribution centre and of course Covid’s got in the way.

“And you can’t get labour to build stuff any more, you can’t get lumber.

“It’s very hard.”

Mackay residents had mixed opinions about the niche supermarket chain planning its Mackay debut.

“(I) can’t wait to fight you in the aisle on specials day,” Darrin Ballinger said, tagging others in the comments on our Facebook post.

“I have been begging ALDI big bosses for years via email to bring their stores to Mackay,” Ms Mac commented.

“Hopefully they lock-in somewhere with plenty of parking.”

Andrea Roots said, “Oh yes please, save the drive to (Rockhampton)”, with Rea Mac adding it was about time the retailer came to the region and Dawn Tronc wrote, “Great news.”

Craig Cope commented he would believe ALDI was coming when he actually saw it.

Others such as Terri Smith said they preferred IGA, Woolworths, Coles and other fruit and vegetable retailers.

“Oh whoop de doo,” Ms Smith commented.

“If you haven’t been to (an ALDI), it’s nothing more than a glorified (Silly) Sollys with a lot of obscure brands you’ve never heard of before.”

And others relied on emojis such as cartwheels and confetti to express their reaction but perhaps Stewart Parks summed it up best with a GIF of a dancing bear clapping its hands.

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