Shoppers have turned out in droves to attend the opening of ALDI’s store at Dubbo on Wednesday morning.
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A line of people with trolleys stretched all the way along the $4.25 million new building before the red ribbon was cut at 8.30am.
A steady stream of shoppers filed into the store for the next half hour and many were quick to make their choices of purchases.
Televisions were among the products that were not left on the shelves for long, along with specials.
Customers were offered complimentary coffee, fruit and chocolate so they could gain a taste of the range.
Desley Hohnberg travelled from Narromine especially to go to the opening of the Dubbo store and by 9.15am had almost filled her trolley.
She said it was the first of many trips she was likely to make to the store.
The customer said with one supermarket in her town, previously they had done some shopping at Dubbo or gone once a month to the ALDI store at Parkes.
“It’s so convenient now that it’s here in Dubbo,” Ms Hohnberg said.
“Everything is a lot cheaper.”
Ms Hohnberg was part of a household of four people, which expanded with visits from grandchildren in school holidays.
Grandson Cody Hancock, 9, came with her for the shopping trip yesterday and scored a balloon from the opening.
ALDI area manager Narelle Taylor was there for the first day of trade, the culmination of weeks of work.
“The line up went all the way around the building and there was a steady stream coming in for about 25 minutes so we’re really excited, all our hard work’s going to pay off,” she said.
“We’ve got plenty of staff on to cope with the crowds.
“We want to make sure we give a great experience for all of our shoppers.”
The crowds in the store were proceeding to the checkouts.
“Obviously the specials are quite popular, and they’re bringing trolley loads to the counter already,” Ms Taylor said.
“I’ve seen four TVs in one trolley at one stage, I think that’s probably the most, but they’re really popular, they’re a good value buy and obviously the customers are really excited about it.
“The special buys in general, (customers) are really loving those.
“I think a lot of the locals are quire familiar with our products, simply from having shopped either at Orange or Parkes or Mudgee or when they go to Sydney.
“So they know our everyday range and they’re quite happily picking up all that stock as well, so across the board it’s looking good, but the special buys in particular.”
