IGA Local Grocer stores a business success for young Sunshine Coast couple

A Sunshine Coast couple will open their fourth grocery store in the region next month. Find out how they’ve held their own against the supermarket giants.

A Sunshine Coast couple about to open up their fourth independent grocery store have revealed their trick to competing against the major chains.

Their secret – don’t try to compete.

Todd O’Reilly, 38, and his wife Rachael, 41, already own IGA Local Grocer stores in Little Mountain, Mooloolaba and Chancellor Park.

They bought their first shop six years ago and will open another in Sunrise Beach, on Grasstree Ct, on November 9.

The North Buderim IGA, which employed more than a dozen people, closed its doors in September only 18 months after Coles moved in across the road.

Mr O’Reilly said he was not trying to beat the supermarket heavyweights.

Todd O'Reilly and his wife, Rachael, are opening their fourth IGA Local Grocer. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We don’t try to compete with Woolies and Coles,” he said.

“Our stores are smaller stores and I guess it is a bit more of that convenience offering.”

The Sunrise Beach IGA Local Grocer will open on November 9. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr O’Reilly said he had looked at the site for three years and then the couple had “more kids” so they put the business expansion on the backburner.

He said the price range would remain competitive.

“People should be able to come in and get whatever they need without having to battle with the bigger stores’ car parks and things like that,” Mr O’Reilly said.

The director said they had not faced the same struggles to employ staff as other venues in the Noosa shire.

Store managers, Billy and Jaymee, are organising the Sunrise Beach store for the opening. Picture: Patrick Woods.

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“We’ve moved a couple of our managers up from one of our other stores, they’ve relocated up towards that way, they’ve been employing for the last couple of weeks,” Mr O’Reilly said.

He said working at a grocery store was “slightly different” to working in cafes and they had hired more experienced staff and high schoolchildren for the Sunrise Beach shop.

They will eventually employ about 15 staff.

Life is busy for the Tanawha couple, who have four children aged between nine and one, and Mr O’Reilly also runs a medical finance business.

The director said he relied on his managers for the day-to-day running of his stores.

“We’ve got a good management team and staff,” Mr O’Reilly said.

Originally published as IGA Local Grocer stores a business success for young Sunshine Coast couple