Aldi to open at Willows shopping centre on November 22

After years of anticipation, Townsville has been given the official opening date for the first Aldi store in North Queensland.

Generic image of Aldi store. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

After years of waiting, Townsville finally has the official date Aldi will open its doors at a North Queensland shopping centre.

On November 22, the brand-new store in the Willows Shopping Centre will offer North Queenslanders something a little different from the Coles and Woolworths duopoly.

In a cost-of-living crisis, more competition should lead to lower prices, and benefit all of Townsville.

The company was looking to hire retail assistants at $29.04 an hour, plus penalties, in September. It is unclear if all the positions have been filled.

The Willows store is part of a broader expansion into Queensland, outside of the south east corner. A second store is also rumoured for Townsville.

Bronwyn Post, Managing Director, Queensland, Aldi Australia said, “It’s a pleasure to announce the grand opening of the Aldi Townsville store will take place on 22nd November. The community have been very supportive since we confirmed we would be coming to the area and we can’t wait to open our doors so they can discover our ‘Good Different’ shopping experience.

“Locals who journey down to the grand opening will be able to shop a unique range of Special Buy items curated exclusively for the Townsville store alongside our exclusive brands curated to deliver the best quality products at the lowest possible prices.

“Townsville will be Aldi’s first store in far North Queensland, allowing us to provide even more Aussies with access to affordable, quality groceries at a time when they need it most. Last year alone, we delivered $3.1bn in savings directly to customers. That’s real money back in the pockets of Australian families.

“We look forward to welcoming Townsville residents to the store from 22nd November so they can experience the savings that can be made for themselves.”

James Cook University’s lecturer in economics Diana Castorina said the potential change in market share by the grocery retailer opening in Townsville could see downward pressure created on prices locally.

“Currently two major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have dominated the grocery market share in Townsville. These two supermarkets alone occupy around 60 per cent of Australia’s grocery market, with Woolworths said to be occupying the greatest portion of the pie,” Ms Castorina said.

“The more concentrated a market is, the less competitive it is. Aldi’s entry to the North Queensland grocery market will take it from a duopoly market structure to an oligopoly.

“If Aldi are in a position to uphold their commitment of offering ‘a unique range of Special Buy items’ which is to offer consumers ‘quality products at the lowest prices possible’, we may see Coles and Woolworths ‘tit for tat’.

“With the current squeeze on household budgets this increase in competitive behaviour will bring much relief to many householders who are now offered with more choice.”

Originally published as Aldi to open at Willows shopping centre on November 22