NEW COLES: Fresh fruit, tasty baked goods and jobs

COLES pegged the success of its new store on Toowoomba’s westward expansion.

AFTER 13 months of landscaping, roadworks and construction, the new Coles supermarket at Glenvale opens its doors today.

Along with the usual fruit, veggies and groceries, the store will bring 130 new jobs to Toowoomba.

"We hired 75 new staff for the store and transferred the rest from other stores," manager Ray Holmes said.

"It's fantastic that we have been able to create new jobs and bolster the region's economy with the store.

"We're also welcoming a number of young people who will be entering the workforce for the first time."

The Glenvale site follows a trend of major supermarket chains building new stores on Toowoomba's fringe, including the new Aldi at Bridge St Plaza.

Mr Holmes said he expected thousands of customers through the store each day.

"Glenvale is a fast-growing area," he said.

"There are a lot of developments in the area, so it was important to have a store here for the future."

MORES STORIES:

Supermarket giant set to start building latest store

Hairdresser's big gamble on Glenvale already pays off

16 housing estates that are transforming Toowoomba

The doors will open at 7am today, with a small ribbon cutting ceremony for the true early birds.

The project brings the total amount that Coles has spent in the Toowoomba region in the past eight years to more than $40 million.

It built and refurbished supermarkets at Wilsonton, Clifford Gardens, Toowoomba North, Grand Central and Highfields.

The Glenvale centre includes a Liquorland bottle shop and a bakery.

Mr Holmes said a big focus would be ready-to-cook meals, which the company saw as a major area of growth going forward.

"There's an ever-increasing demand for new and convenient shopping destinations in Toowoomba, and I think our new store will be the perfect solution for those always asking themselves 'what's for dinner'," he said.

The Glenvale site will also host a click and collect dock for online shoppers to pick up their groceries.