Harris Farm Markets has signed on to build a 4,500sqm store in Majura Park, Canberra – the business’ first store in the ACT since it crashed in the ‘80s. Sitting alongside supermarket giants Costco, Woolworths and Aldi, the Harris Farm Majura Park store will begin construction in mid-2022 with the aim of opening its doors by the end of 2023. According to Harris Farm’s co-chief executive Tristan Harris, the business has been looking for a suitable location for “a number of years”,
rs”, and the new store, which is located right next to Canberra airport, is an opportunity to do “something special”.
“We’re looking to create a local store, though being at the airport also makes it a destination,” Harris told Inside Retail.
“It’s actually really exciting when we go into a new area, because we get to visit a bunch of farmers markets and small towns nearby, which seem to be really booming at the moment, looking for new produce and local products to range.”
According to Harris, this method of building out a list of local products isn’t easy, but he believes it is “absolutely necessary” when entering a new market. Harris Farm’s Canberra store will also open the door for local produce to be extended into the chain’s interstate stores, Harris said.
The store itself will be relatively similar to the layout and design of its Sydney and Queensland sites.
Harris Farm has delivered orders to Canberra customers online for some time, but this is the business’ chance to sell customers on the entire concept, and likely won’t be the last store in the region.
“There are plenty of people there who don’t know what Harris Farm is,” Harris said.
“Is it a farmers market? Is it a supermarket? We’re really excited to get them in store to show them.”
A render for Harris Farms’ new Canberra store.
‘Do better, together’
The grocery chain will be a major player at Majura Park moving forward, said head of property at Canberra Airport, Richard Snow.
Canberra Airport owns and operates Majura Park, which is external from the airport terminals but is located on the same block of land, and will sit at nearly 70,000sqm once Harris Farm is complete.
“We’ve always liked to put retailers into Majura Park that are their only stores in Canberra,” Snow told Inside Retail.
“It gives the precinct a unique nature to it. Coscto, for example, is the only store in that chain in Canberra. This is one of the reasons we thought Harris Farm Markets was a really good fit for us.”
According to Snow, the site is a destination, but still central, as the location can be accessed within around 20 minutes from most parts of Canberra through main arterial roads.
“I think Harris Farm is very unique in the Australian market, compared to some of the more traditional supermarkets,” Snow said.
“They create a market where producers can have concession stores, and can create a more interesting shopping experience for customers.”
Majura Park also holds a Woolworths and Aldi store, and Snow believes that adding Harris Farm to the mix will allow all three of the supermarkets to “do better, together”.
“We’re hoping that with its own uniqueness, Harris Farm will provide a new opportunity for shoppers.”