Mad rush for jobs as Hill Street grocer opens in Oldaker St precinct

A NEW shopping precinct in Devonport has created about 75 new jobs, with positions so in demand that 274 people applied for a single position.

Nick Nikitaras at the West Hobart store. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

A NEW shopping precinct in Devonport has created about 75 new jobs, with positions so in demand that 274 people applied for a single position at the new bottleshop.

In total, 1000 applications were received for jobs at Hill Street’s new operation.

Hill Street’s Devonport store is the eighth to be opened as the Tasmanian independent grocer expands its empire.

The precinct, in Oldaker St, also houses a cafe, a baker, a 9/11 bottleshop, a Knight Frank office, a pharmacy and Saint John Craft Beer.

Hill Street won the National IGA Retailer of the Year award this year and brothers Marco, Nick and Niktar Nikitaras have expanded the business from one corner store in West Hobart into one of the state’s leading food retailers.

MORE: NEW GROCERY STORES LINDISFARNE AND DEVONPORT

The company said it remained a grassroots community grocer committed to supporting local farmers and food producers.

Last year, the Nikitaras brothers were joined by Steve Longmore who heads up its northern operations.

The new centre’s 9/11 bottleshop is owned and operated by Federal Group, which now has 18 suburban liquor outlets across the state.

The Devonport store will stock more than 150 Tasmanian products, including 60 different local wines.

Last year more than 143,000 bottles of Tasmanian wine were sold through the bottleshop chain.

General manager Martin Kelly said the company had worked hard to foster relationships with industry professional.

“We know a lot of winemakers, their families and their stories,” Mr Kelly said.

More than 400 Federal Group employees have received specialised training to increase their knowledge of Tasmanian products.

Originally published as Mad rush for jobs as Hill Street grocer opens in Oldaker St precinct