QE Foodstores plans to open new supermarket in Willoughby town centre

The north shore’s supermarket wars are heating up with plans unveiled for a new fresh food outlet in Willoughby. See what’s planned:

A north shore town centre could be about to get its first supermarket under plans owners say could encourage locals to shop local and revive the shopping strip.

QE Foodstores has released a proposal to build the first supermarket in Willoughby’s town centre by turning the ground level of an office building at 562-564 Willoughby Rd into an independent, small scale grocer.

The store would offer shoppers products such as artisan baked goods, fresh produce, prepared meals, meat, and other general groceries.

QE Foodstores owner Narinder Singh Badhan.

QE Foodstores said the proposal could also boost the local economy and encourage local residents to shop closer to home.

“Currently there is no supermarket facility in this shopping centre and there are few if any suitable tenancies available of sufficient size,” the plans stated.

“Providing a local neighbourhood supermarket in the location will broaden the range of local shopping services available to local residents and workers.

“(It will also) encourage more people to shop locally and improve the overall viability of the Willoughby local shopping centre.”

A photo of the store’s location.

Plans to Willoughby Council show there would be no new carparks, however customers would be encouraged to walk to the site, use public transport or make use of the public car park to the rear of the site.

“We roughly serve about 650 customers a day and based off our knowledge of customers from our other stores, we know that the majority of them are local residents and local workers who do not travel far to get to our stores,” plans stated.

“We are confident in saying most choose to walk, cycle or catch public transport to our stores and we estimate only 5-10 per cent will drive”.

The store would be built on the corner of Borlaise St and Willoughby Rd.

The store would create up to seven jobs and become the 12th outlet for QE Foodstores in Sydney which also operates at McMahons Point and recently launched in St Leonards.

Described as a boutique grocer, the family-owned company stocks about 6000 lines in its small format stores and sources 97 per cent of its fresh produce from Australian growers.

The proposal is under assessment by Willoughby Council and if approved would open from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.