‘Unfair’ claims on costs hit store

A northern NSW budget grocer and its customers are at loggerheads over prices.

Shoppers took to social media to accuse The Good Pantry in East Lismore of costing more than Coles and Woolworths for some basic items, but organisers say the “unfair” claims have left “hardworking volunteers highly distressed”.

The Good Pantry was established in July 2022 in the wake of the Northern Rivers floods.

The mainly volunteer-led store continues to operate for those suffering from Australia’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.

Catholic Diocese of Lismore chaplain Ian Phillips, who helps run the store as well as Lismore Soup Kitchen, said The Good Pantry provided low-cost non-perishables and other household items direct from Food Bank NSW.

Lismore resident Kai Lee took to Facebook to slam the store, saying the prices on some items were “terrible”.

“I asked them (the staff) about it and they said that’s the way it is now,” she wrote. “This is terrible when they are getting the food extra cheap.”

Other residents joined the uproar, with one person commenting: “These places were made for people to buy cheaper groceries but it’s not the case.”

Mr Phillips said they couldn’t always “compete with the specials that Coles and Woolworths have on certain items”.

“We make every effort to get the lowest prices possible from Food Bank NSW,” he said.

“People need to be aware that any overheads are coming out of our own pockets and not from sales profits. We never set this up to make money, in fact – we are losing it.”

Mr Phillips said the “unfair” complaints came “out of left field” and had left the store’s “hardworking volunteers highly distressed”.