KAUFLAND’S PLANS FOR HIGHTON
GERMAN supermarket giant Kaufland plans to continue its Australian expansion by setting up a megastore in Highton.
Plans to build a store on Colac Rd that could be up to five times bigger than the average Coles or Woolworths have been passed from the State Government to an independent advisory panel for assessment.
Kaufland Australia managing director Julia Kern said the company wanted to create jobs and opportunities for the community.
“With five approved stores, as well as the additional nine sites under review (including Highton), we are committed to our long-term, sustainable growth across Victoria,” Ms Kern (inset) said earlier this year.
“We look forward to creating thousands of jobs (across Victoria) and creating opportunities nities for local businesses.”
Kaufland stores es usually include a large grocery section, n, a bottle shop, food d hall, outdoor area and d about 400 car spaces. .
It is billed as a onestop shop selling everything rything from supermarket staples to items such as bikes at discount prices.
The company has 1200 supermarkets across Europe that are typically 20,000sq m — about five times larger than the standard Woolworths or Coles.
If approved, the Highton store will be built on a 19,000sq m block facing Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre that houses a Coles and Kmart, and in the vicinity of Aldi on South Valley Rd.
Highton residents have shown strong opposition to development in the p past, with a proposal for a Be Bean Squeeze coffee outlet on Barrabool Rd shot d down after it received a about 100 objections. If the independent ad advisory panel and Plannin ning Minister approve the Kau Kaufland megastore in Highto Highton, it will add to stores already appr approved at Oakleigh South, Coolaroo, Dandenong, Epping and Chirnside Park. The company has announced plans to build other stores at Braybrook, Lyndhurst, South Morang, Bendigo, Narre Warren, Warrnambool, Coburg and Pakenham. Kaufland’s 115,000sq m distribution centre at Mickleham in Melbourne is under construction. German discount supermarket chain Aldi has grown to 10 stores in the region.