Supermarket giant Woolworths has opened the first of its new style of inner-city stores, which aim to change shopping habits.
The mini supermarket in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall – the seventh most expensive retail strip in the world – was unveiled last month to little fanfare.
Despite the low-profile opening, Woolworths has high hopes for the concept, which drew inspiration from the Hong Kong, the US and the UK.
Supermarket giant Woolworths has opened the first of new style of inner-city stores which aim to change shopping habits (pictured)
The mini supermarket in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall – the seventh most expensive retail strip in the world – was unveiled last month to little fanfare (pictured is the new store)
Featuring a cafe, a sushi bar, poke bowls and a kitchen serving hot meals, the store also sells a range of ‘curated’ foods for busy city office workers.
Rival chain Coles will also debut a similar type of smaller store, but Woolworths said their new location was more designed to compete with cafes and restaurants.
Steve Greentree, the managing director of Woolworths’ Metro division, said the store offers shorter queues and better prices than local food courts, he told News.com.au.
‘We used to use a supermarket once or twice a week. What we’re building with this store is somewhere we serve you three times a day,’ he said.
Despite the low-profile opening, Woolworths has high hopes for the concept, which drew inspiration from the Hong Kong, the US and the UK (pictured is the new store)
‘The first thing you see when you walk in is a cafe where you can get breakfast and then as you go through the day you can get lunch and then, as you head home, there’s a dinner solution.’
Woolworths said the concept was developed from research and testing both within Australia and abroad, with shoppers recognising elements from around the world.
The store blends the style of Hong Kong’s bustling hawkers’ markets with consumer trends seen in the dense global cities of New York and London.
Customers can choose from sushi, pizza, poke bowls, roast dinners and curries, and get their coffee fix from an in-store barista.
Indoor seating and phone charging outlets have been provided to make shoppers feel welcome, and a sandwich press is available for on-site cooking.
There is a trade-off for the convenience and cheap food prices, however, with some staple supermarket items selling for more than in suburban supermarkets.
Vegemite, Corn Flakes, instant coffee and free-range eggs are all slightly more expensive, and the range of household goods is substantially smaller.
Featuring a cafe, a sushi bar, poke bowls and a kitchen serving hot food, the store (pictured) also sells a range of ‘curated’ foods for busy CBD office workers
Another mini Metro is planned for the inner city suburb of Kings Cross, and more are expected in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Coles is opening the first of its own style of smaller store in Surrey Hills, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, later this year.
Like Woolworths’ Pitt Street Mall store, the new Coles outlet will target cashed-up young professionals living in trendy upmarket suburbs.
The chain plans to open 120 of the convenience-style supermarkets, which will have a focus on health foods, artisan and vegan products.
Rival chain Coles will also debut a similar type of smaller store, but Woolworths said their new location (pictured) was more designed to compete with cafes and restaurants